On May 25th, Michael Szabo Studio was awarded the commission for exterior artwork at the new Center for Excellence in Engineering and Technology at Oregon Institute of Technology’s Klamath Falls campus. The selection committee unanimously chose Michael’s proposal, Moment, for its site responsiveness and interactive draw for students, faculty and visitors to the new building. Serving as sculpture, shade structure and seating element, the piece will stand over 12 feet tall and 25 feet long. The project is now in the design development stage with installation slated for 2022.
The two undulating, ribbon-like forms of Moment will emerge from the landscape, intertwining and interacting with each other. Midway before returning to the ground, the forms converge as they graze a semicircular concrete seating bench that offers varying levels of seating caused by the gentle slope of the site. The result is a dynamic experience that invites interaction with the piece and between viewers, offering moments to sit and catch shade or conversation, or providing a gateway to your next destination on campus. Walking through or around the piece, the forms seem to move and flow like water in the nearby Klamath river.