Orbit
2023
304 Stainless Steel
92 × 54 × 54 inches
800 lbs.
I've always been fascinated by the elegance of systems in motion- from the movement of planets to the invisible structure of molecules. Orbit grew from that fascination and my desire to create a sculpture that was not only visually dynamic, but physically alive.
At first glance, the composition appears suspended in a moment of balance, yet every major element was designed to move. The sculpture combines rotating spheres with independently spinning hemispheres, creating an ever-changing composition that never presents quite the same view twice. Rather than simply representing movement, I wanted movement to become an essential part of the sculpture itself.
Turning that idea into reality became an engineering challenge unlike any I had undertaken. I began with hand sketches and a working maquette built from small bearings before developing the sculpture in CAD. Months of design, calculation, and refinement followed as I engineered a system that could conceal motors, bearings, drive assemblies, and machined components entirely within the sculpture's forms.
Every mechanical element was carefully designed, from custom-machined aluminum components to laser-cut stainless steel parts and precision drive systems. The final sculpture incorporates one motor that rotates the overall composition while additional motors independently rotate each hemisphere, creating a continuously evolving interplay of form, balance, and motion.
A Personal Note
I've always enjoyed the challenge of solving problems that seem impossible at first. For me, Orbit became much more than a sculpture- it became an opportunity to blend art, engineering, and curiosity into a single work. My hope is that viewers first enjoy its movement, then begin to wonder how it works, and finally leave appreciating that creativity and engineering are often inseparable.