Amazeum Creatives Collaborate on Public Art Piece
Rainbow Springs to Light up Lawrence Plaza
BENTONVILLE, Ark. (May 9, 2019) — Lawrence Plaza in Downtown Bentonville will be a little brighter after the installation of Rainbow Springs. Rainbow Springs is an interactive art piece created by the Scott Family Amazeum creative team in collaboration with Fayetteville maker Eugene Sargent as part of the museum’s Maker in Residence Program. Visit Bentonville provided $25,000 to fund development of Bentonville’s first technology-enabled, interactive public art piece.
Rainbow Springs consists of a series of acrylic tubes with LED strips inside. The LED strips are programmable and set in motion by sensors mounted in the sculpture. When activated the LED lights mathematically replicate the physics of gravity inviting people to play with the sculpture and explore the causal relationship between the lights and sensors.
“We are so excited to partner with Visit Bentonville, the Public Art Advisory Committee, and Bentonville Parks and Recreation Department to create a spontaneous moment of light play just off the Downtown Bentonville Square,” said Sam Dean, executive director of the Amazeum. “The collaborative Rainbow Springs piece, produced by the amazing makers on the Amazeum creative team with Eugene Sargent, brings together a playful exploration of art, science and technology and invites people to play with and around the sculpture and each other. These moments of authentic, joyful, social exploration are more important today than ever for a vibrant quality of life.”
“Incorporation of public art into Bentonville further emphasizes the importance our community places on the arts,” said Kalene Griffith, president and CEO of Visit Bentonville. “The installation of Rainbow Springs serves as another exciting experience for those visiting our dynamic city.”
Rainbow Springs will be permanently installed at the entrance to Lawrence Plaza at the corner of NE A and Blake Streets. Eugene Sargent is a resident maker in the Amazeum’s Maker in Residence Program. The Program is designed to bring creative energy to the Amazeum and share that energy and creativity with the community. Rainbow Springs is a tangible result of the program and adds another unique experience for visitors and residents in Downtown Bentonville.
About the Scott Family Amazeum
The Scott Family Amazeum is a hands-on, interactive museum featuring Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) activities for families. Located at the intersection of J Street and Museum Way in Bentonville, the Amazeum experiences include a climbable tree canopy, indoor cave, the 3M Tinkering Hub, Hershey’s Lab, Nickelodeon PlayLab, the Market sponsored by Walmart and nearly one acre of outdoor space. For more information about the museum, visit amazeum.org.
About the Maker in Residence Program
The Maker in Residence Program is designed to bring creative makers from across the country and region to the Amazeum to collaborate with the Amazeum team and creative, curious Northwest Arkansans. Makers in Residence work at the Amazeum to explore the intersection of science, technology, engineering, and art to develop engaging community experiences inside and outside the museum. Support for the Maker in Residence Program provided by The Walton Family Foundation.
