Roots and Branches - Seattle, WA
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member 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
Published By: Groundspeak Premium Member Hikenutty
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.

Title: Roots and Branches

Artist: Trimpin

Media (materials) used: Musical instruments and computers

Location (specific park, transit center, library, etc.): Experience Music Project

City: Seattle

Date of creation or placement: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
To help give a different perspective and to better the waymark for future visitors please tell us about your visit and upload a favorite photograph you took of the waymark. Although visiting this waymark in person is the only thing required of you to receive credit for your visit, taking the time to add this information is greatly appreciated.
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Recent Visits/Logs:
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justmom97 visited Roots and Branches - Seattle, WA 7/3/2009 justmom97 visited it
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Hikenutty visited Roots and Branches - Seattle, WA 8/1/2006 Hikenutty visited it

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