Lunch Time Artist Talks: Colton Sampson

The murmuration of starlings is a phenomenon seen most often at dusk near their nesting grounds. In an attempt to increase numbers before night fall, these birds swarm in the sky moving in near perfect harmony. Like a floating river they dive and weave as one. Staying tightly connected each bird is acutely aware of their neighbors, Movement flicks through the flock. Finally, as night falls, they perch in the trees warmer than they would have been before. All motion flows together. As we change courses in our lives, the people around us notice and react. The connections we cherish make our lives meaningful.

The motion in this piece is meant to amplify the patterns found in nature while giving the viewer a way to be a part of it. One bird in the murmuration cannot see what form the flock is taking. Only as an outside observe can you see the movement entirely. In contrast, this piece lets you be both an observer and a member of active change.

Phenomenon like this fills me with awe and curiosity about the world around me. By making a sculpture the looks foreign, I hope to peak the viewers own curiosity while giving them the space to create their own meaning for what it is.

This sculpture uses motion tracking software, projection mapping and CNC manufacturing to create a interactive experience. The artwork is not a recorded video playing in loop: It is created by a computer program continuously producing unique images in real time. The interaction between people and the installation causes continuous change in the artwork: previous visual states can never be replicated. The picture you create this moment can never be seen again.