Cosmic Perception

This public art sculpture by Shane Allbritton and Norman Lee of RE:Site Studios, called Cosmic Perception, represents the dynamic burst of creation at the very beginning of everything: the Big Bang.

You can look at it from the inside out or outside in, just like scientists explore phenomena as small as a single subatomic particle to as large as entire galaxies in deep space. Its kaleidoscopic effect encourages you to look at your surroundings in a new way.

The combination of custom steel spires lined with mirrors and dichroic glass creates a set of arching, stacked kaleidoscopes reaching over 23 feet tall.

The word “dichroic” comes from the Greek words “di” meaning two and “chroma” meaning color. Depending on the angle you look at it, as well as the angle of the sunlight shining through it, Cosmic Perception’s glass can appear to be many different colors.

Thin layers of metals like chromium, titanium and aluminum inside of the glass are used to selectively reflect particular wavelengths, and thus colors, of light, giving the range of different hues in Cosmic Perception’s kaleidoscopes.

While artists have used dichroic glass since at least the Roman Empire, today you can find it on everything from NASA spacecraft to jewelry.

So, if you haven't already, explore Cosmic Perception!