Urban Memory Forest

Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Year: 2002
Client: Temporary Art Installation
Team: Petra Sattler-Smith, Klaus Mayer, UAA with Brian Jeffrey

Urban Memory Forest was a temporary art installation challenging our perspective of development within the city. In a grid of 20′ by 20′, one hundred and sixty eight 20′ black plastic pipes were planted. Each pipe was to bring back a memory of what had been at this place some time ago.

This modern forest was reactive to environmental forces. The pipes bend away from the sun-exposed side of the pipe, gradually following the path of the sun during the day. The wind would move them. Occasional rain would cool off the pipes, emitting steam from condensation. The culmination of this installation was a dance performance orchestrated by choreographer Brian Jeffrey.