Toby Atticus Fraley
Luminous Cactus
On display Nov. 9–18
Inspired by the native cactus species of Arizona, Luminous Cactus is an interactive audio/visual installation. Inside each of the eight cacti is an LED array connected to a nearby control box, where visitors place a magnet on a slowly rotating drum divided into eight segments. When the magnet passes over a segment, it turns on the LEDs inside one of the cacti. Each cactus can be triggered individually, or all of the cacti can be illuminated at the same time.
The eight segments are also tied to a six-note pentatonic scale and two drum beats, creating a unique musical tone synced with the illumination of each cactus. This all gives visitors the chance to design their own musical light patterns, creating short, looping songs that are visualized by the glow of the cacti. The most recently programmed sequence will continue to loop until a new loop is created by the next visitor.
Artist Bio
Toby Atticus Fraley is a fulltime artist from Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, where he maintains a studio. His work consists mostly of public art installations, mixed media sculpture (made from recycled vintage materials), ceramic sculpture, and Americana-themed oil paintings. Fraley’s popular Robot Repair installation at Pittsburgh International Airport was featured in the 2016 Americans for The Arts Public Art Network Year in Review.