Ned Kahn

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Ned Kahn
AIR! Elemental Interactions (2582638728) (2) (cropped).jpg
Kahn, photographed in 2008
Born1959or1960(age 65–66) [1]
Alma mater University of Connecticut
Awards MacArthur Fellows Program
2003
National Design Award
2005
Website nedkahn.com

Ned Kahn is an environmental artist and sculptor, known in particular for museum exhibits, one of which is the Exploratorium in San Francisco. His work usually intends to make an invisible aspect of nature, visible.

Contents

Early life

Kahn was born in New York City and raised in Stamford, Connecticut. [2] At the age of 10, he staged his first exhibition of sculptures fashioned from salvaged junkyard items, where his mother had taken him. [3]

After graduating with a degree in botany and environmental science from the University of Connecticut, in 1982, Kahn moved to San Francisco, where he was fascinated by the Exploratorium. [4] He worked there from 1982 to 1996 under the tutelage of the museum's founder, Frank Oppenheimer. [1] In 2001, Kahn became the artist in residence at the Headlands Center for the Arts. [5]

Kahn moved from San Francisco to Graton, California [1] in 1998 [5] and works from the Ned Kahn Studios in Sebastopol. [6] He is married and has two children. Kahn cites his daily meditation routine as key to his artistic development. [3]

Awards

Often when you ask scientists, 'How did you get into your field?', you find out it was an aesthetic experience. Geologists just love rocks. It's the sensory connection that gets them started.

  Ned Kahn,quoted in 2004 Sunset magazine article [4]

Kahn won a MacArthur Foundation "genius grant" fellowship in 2003, [7] [8] and the National Design Award for landscape architecture in 2005. [9] [10]

Works

Cloud Rings at the Exploratorium Blowing Smoke.jpg
Cloud Rings at the Exploratorium

Some examples of Kahn's work to capture the invisible include building facades that move in waves in response to wind; [11] [12] indoor tornadoes and vortices made of fog, steam, or fire; [13] and a transparent sphere containing water and sand which, when spun, erodes a beach-like ripple pattern into the sand surface. In 2003 Kahn collaborated with Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc. on Articulated Cloud, a piece installed on the exterior walls of the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh consisting of hundreds of movable flaps that respond to the wind creating visible patterns. [11]

His work is in the collection of di Rosa, Napa. [14]

Selected works by Ned Kahn [15]
TitleImageElementLocationCityState/
Country
YearNotesRefs.
Aeolian Landscape Sandstorm (2799064052).jpg Sand Museum of Life and Science DurhamNorth Carolina1993Also on exhibit at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. [5] [16]
Articulated Cloud Children's Museum - Pittsburgh (25206956535) (cropped).jpg Wind Children's Museum of Pittsburgh PittsburghPennsylvania2004Collaboration with Konig/Eizenberg [11] [17]
Avalanche Avalanche Disk (32374446152).jpg Sand Children's Museum of Pittsburgh PittsburghPennsylvania2011A similar piece named Negev Wheel has been exhibited at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco. [1] [18]
Braided StreamWind Exploratorium San FranciscoCalifornia [19]
Breathing SkyFog Yerba Buena Center for the Arts San FranciscoCalifornia1995
Bus Jet Fountain Transbay Transit Center, on the day after the opening-7216.jpg Water Salesforce Transit Center San FranciscoCalifornia2018 [20]
Chain of EtherWind ResMed Corporation San DiegoCalifornia2009 [21]
Chaotic Pendulum Exploratorium San FranciscoCalifornia [22]
Circadian Wind NK CircadianWind.jpg WindCirca Parking DeckLos AngelesCalifornia2019
Circular Wave UmbrellaWind Exploratorium San FranciscoCalifornia [23]
Cloud Arbor Misting after a ride (7736337654).jpg Fog Buhl Community Park PittsburghPennsylvania2012Collaboration with Andi Cochran [1]
Cloud Portal 3.142r2 of SF (38167604191).jpg FogDavis CourtSan FranciscoCalifornia2011Collaboration with RHAA [24]
Cloud Rings Anillos (406002665).jpg Fog 21c Museum Hotel Louisville LouisvilleKentucky2006An installation with the same name is on exhibit at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. [25] [26]
Cloud VesselFogThe DocksSacramentoCalifornia2010Collaboration with Walker Macy [27] [28]
Digitized Field Digitized Field by Ned Kahn - Flickr - brewbooks (1).jpg WindAT&T BuildingSanta RosaCalifornia2004 [5] [29] [30]
Divided SeaWaterEmerald Glen ParkDublinCalifornia2004 [8] [31] [32]
Duales Systems PavilionFog Expo 2000 HanoverGermany2000Collaboration with Uwe Bruckner
EnaguaWind Playa Vista Los AngelesCalifornia2015Collaboration with Johnson/Fain [33]
Encircled CloudFogParadise Ridge Winery and Sculpture GardenSanta RosaCalifornia2012
Encircled StreamWaterFounders Court
Seattle Center
SeattleWashington1995Collaboration with Atelier Landscape Architects
Encircled VoidWindBertolini Student Center
Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa RosaCalifornia2010
Erratic FenceWind Sonoma County Museum Santa RosaCalifornia2015Collaboration with Jensen Architects
Feather WallWindRobert B. Green Clinical PavilionSan AntonioTexas2012Collaboration with Overland Partners and RTKL
Field of AirWind Denver International Airport
between Jeppesen Terminal and Westin Hotel
DenverColorado2015Collaboration with Gensler [34] [35]
Fire VortexFire/Light Technorama WinterthurSwitzerland1997
Firefly New PUC bldg on Golden Gate (14318039934).jpg Fire/Light San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Civic Center
San FranciscoCalifornia2012 [36] [1] [37]
Fluvial StormSand Exploratorium San FranciscoCalifornia1990
Glacial FacadeFire/Light Issaquah Highlands Park and RideIssaquahWashington2006
Greenhouse ProjectFire/Light San Francisco County Jail 3 San BrunoCalifornia1990
Hidden SeaWindCeatrice Polite ApartmentsSan FranciscoCalifornia2000 [38]
Hyperbolic ParaboloidWind Crossroads School Santa MonicaCalifornia2015Collaboration with Fred Fisher
Liquid Pixels Liquid Pixels--Ned Kahn (3986278491).jpg Wind Rosslyn
1801 N Lynn St
ArlingtonVirginia2002
Magnetic Field StoneSand Exploratorium San FranciscoCalifornia1996
Mare Undurum Tempe Art Center Pool 2 (5356477794).jpg Fire/Light Tempe Center for the Arts TempeArizona2008
MicroturbinesWind Santa Rosa Junior College Santa RosaCalifornia2009
Net of IndraFire/LightAutomated Garage at City HallWest HollywoodCaliforniaCollaboration with Rick D'Amato
Pebble ChimeSand Discovery World
Pier Wisconsin
MilwaukeeWisconsin2006
Pedibrion FallsWater 21c Museum Hotel Durham DurhamNorth Carolina2015
Prairie TreeWind Nicollet Mall MinneapolisMinnesota2017 [39]
Prism Tunnel Rainbow Tunnel (163434046).jpg Fire/LightChildren's Garden
Huntington Library Gardens
San MarinoCalifornia2004
Project Lions Debenhams from Marylebone Lane 03.jpg Wind Debenhams flagship
Oxford Street
LondonEngland2014Collaboration with Archial Architects
Quantum Wave ATF headquarters.jpg WaterATF HeadquartersWashingtonDistrict of Columbia2008
Rain Oculus Rain Oculus (47946040766).jpg Water Marina Bay Sands Singapore2011Collaboration with Moshe Safdie [40] [1]
Rain PortalWater San Francisco Public Utilities Commission San FranciscoCalifornia2012Deaccessioned in 2018 due to persistent leakage. [41] [42]
Rainbow Arbor Rainbow Arbor at Skirball Cultural Center (34933681025).jpg Fog Skirball Cultural Center Los AngelesCalifornia2008Collaboration with Moshe Safdie [18] [43]
Rift ZoneSand Exploratorium San FranciscoCalifornia [44]
Seismic SeaWater Pasadena Museum of California Art PasadenaCalifornia2009
Sonic Pool Liquid Mirror 0585 (9099212402).jpg WaterChildren's Garden
Huntington Library Gardens
San MarinoCalifornia2004
Sonic Range The landscape of vibration (2799063758).jpg Sand Exploratorium San FranciscoCalifornia1992 [45]
Spoonfall H2 Hotel, Healdsburg CA (5718913435).jpg WaterH2 HotelHealdsburgCalifornia2010
Subducted LandscapesSand Chevron Texaco HeadquartersSan RamonCalifornia2002
Technorama Facade Technorama offen.jpg Wind Technorama
The Swiss Science Center
WinterthurSwitzerland2002
Tipping WallWater Marina Bay Sands Singapore2011Collaboration with Moshe Safdie [18]
Tornado Making tornadoes (2798220743).jpg Fog World Financial Center
Battery Park City
New YorkNew York1990Also on exhibit at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. [13] [46]
Turbulent LineWind Brisbane Airport BrisbaneAustralia2012Collaboration with UAP [1]
Turbulent Orb Exploratorium May 2008 (2468171148).jpg Water World Financial Center
Battery Park City
New YorkNew York1990Also on exhibit at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. [47]
Turbulent ShadeWindCity HallChandlerArizona2010
Vertical CanalWind Rijkswaterstaat UtrechtNetherlands2008
The WaveWind Target Field MinneapolisMinnesota2010Collaboration with Tom Oslund and Associates
Wave Oculus Reflections (3153014665).jpg WaterUnion Point PierOaklandCalifornia2006
Wavespout (Breathing Sea)Water Ventura Pier San BuenaventuraCalifornia1993Destroyed by 1995 storm along with 420 feet (130 m) of the Pier [4] [48] [49] [50]
Wind Arbor Marina Bay Sands (4586546845).jpg Wind Marina Bay Sands Singapore2011Collaboration with Moshe Safdie
Wind CubeWind[private collection]Santa RosaCalifornia2005
Wind Fence UO Lillis WindFence.jpg Wind University of Oregon EugeneOregon [18]
Wind FingersWind[private collection]SebastopolCalifornia
Wind FinsWind Neiman Marcus Walnut CreekCalifornia2012 [51]
Wind HouseWindDiRosa Art and Nature PreserveNapaCalifornia2003
Wind Leaves Wind Discovery World
Pier Wisconsin
MilwaukeeWisconsin2006
Wind Portal Wind Portal by Ned Kahn, October 2009.jpg Wind San Francisco International Airport station San FranciscoCalifornia2003 [5] [8]
Wind RoundaboutWindTraffic roundaboutFort WorthTexas2015 [52]
Wind SilosWindInternational Trade CenterCharlotteNorth Carolina2006 [53] [54]
Wind VeilWind Gateway Village CharlotteNorth Carolina2000 [8] [12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Greenwald, Jeff (July 31, 2011). "Ned Kahn: The Limits of the Knowable". Smithsonian. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  2. Decarlo, Tessa (1996-08-18). "Persuading Nature to Perform Its Stormy Weather Dances". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  3. 1 2 Greenwald, Jeff (Fall 2004). "The Art of Inquiry" . Tricycle. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 Fish, Peter (August 14, 2004). "The Nature of Art". Sunset. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Horvath, Alex (August 12, 2005). "sculpting the elements / Sonoma artist's vision makes the invisible visible in patterns of water, shadow, light". san Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  6. "Ned Kahn: About". Denver Public Art. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  7. "Ned Kahn, Artist and Science Exhibit Designer | Class of 2003". MacArthur Foundation. October 5, 2003. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Asimov, Nanette (October 5, 2003). "Genius rewarded / 3 from Bay Area win grants from MacArthur Foundation". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  9. "2005 National Design Award Winners". Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  10. "Winners of the Sixth Annual National Design Awards". Dexigner. October 21, 2005. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  11. 1 2 3 "Articulated Cloud". Americans for the Arts. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  12. 1 2 "Wind Veil". Americans for the Arts. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  13. 1 2 "Tornado". Exploratorium. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  14. "Collection in Focus: Ned Kahn | di Rosa". 22 December 2015.
  15. Kahn, Ned. "Portfolio". Ned Kahn. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  16. "Aeolian Landscape by Ned Kahn". Exploratorium. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  17. "Articulated Cloud | Ned Kahn". Arch2O. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Paull, Laura (July 29, 2016). "Humongous wheel at CJM turns Israeli sand into art". The Jewish News of Northern California. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  19. "Braided Stream". Exploratorium. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  20. Casey, Cindy (October 2, 2018). "Bus Jet Fountain". Art and Architecture SF. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  21. Showley, Roger (April 6, 2012). "ResMed: A palace of art that inspires office workers". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  22. "Chaotic Pendulum". Exploratorium. 5 April 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  23. "Circular Wave Umbrella by Ned Kahn". Exploratorium. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  24. Casey, Cindy (January 16, 2013). "Cloud Portal". Art and Architecture SF. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  25. "Cloud Rings". Exploratorium. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  26. "Cloud Rings by Ned Kahn: Maintenance Instructions" (PDF). Exploratorium. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  27. "Cloud Vessel". Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  28. "Project: Docks Promenade". Walker Macy. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  29. "Digitized Field". Creative Sonoma. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  30. "Ned Kahn Public Art Projects". City of Santa Rosa. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  31. "Emerald Glen Park". City of Dublin, California. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  32. Casey, Laura (April 20, 2008). "Roving art piece rolls into Dublin". East Bay Times. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  33. Arias, Rob (August 23, 2018). "Two Emeryville Marina public art finalists selected to evoke memory of historic mudflat sculptures". The E'ville Eye. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  34. Rinaldi, Ray Mark (May 15, 2013). "Denver hopes to buy $2 million sculpture by Ned Kahn". The Denver Post. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  35. Rinaldi, Ray Mark (November 25, 2015). "DIA's $6 million worth of big, new art". The Denver Post. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  36. "Firefly". Americans for the Arts. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  37. Casey, Cindy (September 17, 2012). "Firefly on the new SFPUC Building". Art and Architecture SF. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  38. Casey, Cindy (September 22, 2012). "Hidden Sea near Moscone Center". Art and Architecture SF. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  39. "Ned Kahn: Prairie Tree Alights on Nicollet Mall". Nicollet Mall Art. August 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  40. "Rain Oculus". Americans for the Arts. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  41. Casey, Cindy (April 7, 2014). "Rain Portal". Art and Architecture SF. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  42. Kelly Jr., Harlan L. (September 24, 2018). "Letter to Tom DeCaigny, Director of Cultural Affairs, San Francisco Arts Commission" (PDF). Office of the General Manager, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  43. "Rainbow Arbor". Americans for the Arts. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  44. "Rift Zone by Ned Kahn". Exploratorium. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  45. "Artists: Ned Kahn". Exploratorium. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  46. "Tornado by Ned Kahn: Assembly and Maintenance" (PDF). Exploratorium. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  47. "Turbulent Orb". Exploratorium. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  48. "Public Art ID PA93-01". City of Ventura. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  49. "Disasters at the Pier". City of Ventura. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  50. Bustillo, Miguel; Wilson, Tracy (December 14, 1995). "Historic Ventura Pier Takes Another Battering: Storm: Waves destroy 420 feet of landmark. Damage is estimated at $1.5 million. High seas and debris close beach" . Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 November 2019. Alternate URL, image of first section
  51. Lederer, Carrie (July 20, 2009). "Approval of a proposal for public artwork for the Neiman Marcus Project". Arts Commission, City of Walnut Creek. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  52. Robinson, Gaile (December 9, 2015). "Panther Island public artwork to be dedicated Thursday". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  53. "Wind Silos". Americans for the Arts. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  54. Schumacher, Michael; Schaeffer, Oliver; Vogt, Michael-Marcus (2010). MOVE: Architecture in Motion - Dynamic Components and Elements. Basel: Birkhäuser Verlag AG. pp. 170–171. ISBN   978-3-7643-9986-3 . Retrieved 26 November 2019.