Mark Kesling, the founder and CEO of the daVinci Pursuit, wants to bring a closer collaboration between artists, scientists, and the community through public art projects. One of their most ambitious projects, the Ka-Bike-O-Scope, is currently underway and will be installed soon to the Barth Street Bridge area on the Pleasant Run Trail.
The Ka-Bike-O-Scope, designed by the artist/scientist team of Quincy Owens and Luke Crawley, is comprised of many interconnected structures, which will allow for group collaboration. In each structure, the color wheels are mounted in a glass-encased overhang/roof that is supported at various heights approximately 12 feet above the ground. The mechanism by which users can rotate the color wheels, include a stationary bicycle and hand crank mounted on and housed within the structural support. The interactive sculpture-experience also demonstrates the art and science of simple machines, how energy is transferred, and color mixing and art concepts.
“We asked the community what they wanted out of a public art project, and they told us they wanted a fitness component, and something beautiful. They are getting the science as another benefit,” he noted.
IPS School 19 and Center for Inquiry School 27 recently helped with a major component in the installation. Students met with Quincy Owens to learn about the science behind color and pigment, and why the Ka-Bike-O-Scope creates such brilliant images. Students selected colors to mix on their bike wheel and assisted Owens in assembling their own color wheel for the project. Other schools across the city are also assisting in the project, making it a true community endeavor.
Kesling is passionate about the ambitious projects the daVinci Pursuit have on the drawing boards. Founded in 2009, he said that he wanted to promote a dialogue between artists and scientists, and bring neighborhoods inspiration and beauty in the process. The National Science Foundation provided the grant to create Ka-Bike-O-Scope and other projects to Indianapolis.
“There is no lack of ideas and imagination here,” Kesling explained. “We just have to build the capacity to bring it together.” Currently, five artists work on proposals and projects ranging from the daVinci Sound Project with harpist Melissa Gallant, a “Fallen Lighthouse” installation, a giant metal and wood sculpture that will interact with the flow of water in an Indianapolis river, and an interactive scanner which captures the movement of people passing by to create a soundscape. The Ka-Bike-O-Scope is the first of the projects to be installed; others are slated for 2015.
On November 13, the daVinci Pursuit will hold a fundraiser for the public from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at The Hall, 202 N. Alabama. Guests will be able to play with science games and toys, mingle with artists and scientists, and see some of the projects they have slated for next year. It is a 21-and-older “play date” with proceeds going to support the project. Tickets are $50 and available on Eventbrite.com.
For more information about the daVinci Pursuit and their projects, visit www.thedavincipursuit.com.
