The other day, I was on my way home when something flashing in the park caught my eye. A large, spherical object was glowing with million of colors had me captivated for twenty minutes. This magical sphere is called Buckyball. Buckyball is a sculpture created by Leo Villareal made up of 180 LED tubes that are arranged to flash with different colors on a complicated, seemingly random sequence.
However, the patterns are not only for show. They alert neurological processes in the brain that help us put together patterns and gain meaning from our external environment. Through binary codes, Buckyball has been known to cause people to question the meaning of space and time.
“My new light sculpture,” says Villareal, “takes the form of a carbon 60 molecule and expands it to monumental scale.” A carbon 60 molecule (see below) is a Fullerene: a molecule made entirely from carbon in a spherical or tubular shape. Fullerenes are now used in medicine and laser technology.
Wooden, zero-gravity “couches” surround the sculpture. These couches are made to mimic the surrounding park benches, but in a fashion that exposes the viewer to the full glory of the art. “This public artwork reinterprets many of the traditional elements found in the Park such as seating and historic monuments in a fresh and exciting way,” says Leo Villareal.
Buckyball will be around through January. It is an exciting new sculpture perfect for the entire family. The hit fast-food restaurant Shake Shack is placed conveniently nearby. It is a very captivating piece of artwork and, on behalf of Madison Square Park, I urge you to go and see it.
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