
Roots and Branches - Seattle, WA
Posted by:
Hikenutty
N 47° 37.268 W 122° 20.875
10T E 548997 N 5274398
Quick Description: "Roots and Branches" is an interactive sculpture made of hundreds of instruments, mostly guitars (some, robotic). It's about 20' tall, located in the exhibit entry area of the Experience Music Project Museum. The piece was created by the German artist, Trimpin.
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 7/31/2006 10:55:51 PM
Waymark Code: WMJWG
Views: 118
Long Description:
PHOTOS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN MUSEUM! I didn't know this when I took
the shot, and nobody said anything to me at the time. So, I'm going
to trust you that you visited it. When you log this tell me about
your visit, what you thought of the EMP or another part of the
Seattle Center complex that you visited.
This sculpture, Roots and Branches is the centerpiece of the
exhibit entryway and is loaded with instruments, spiralling upward
like a musical tornado! Along with guitars I spotted a french horn,
a keyboard, a double bass, cello,.... Computer touch-screens
equipped with earphones guide visitors through various musical
permutations as live music, provided by the sculpture itself, plays
in the background. Numerous customized robotic guitars attached to
the sculpture play music on cue. Each customized guitar plays only
one string at a time, so six guitars work together to create the
sound of one chord - an effective mechanical metaphor for the way
that musical styles and traditions have influenced one another
throughout time. The Experience Music Project (EMP)is the
brainchild of local billionaire, Paul Allen. It houses his enormous
collection of music memorabilia and is very fun to visit -
especially if you like 60's and early 70's music. The museum
building is a sculpture itself, designed by famous architect Frank
Gehry and it's both loved and hated in the city for it's wild form.
I've placed a picture of it in the gallery. The coordinates given
are for EMP's main entrance. Apologies for the dark photo, but it's
very dark where the piece is located and I couldn't use a flash in
the building.