Niki de Saint Phalle

After students were introduced to the work of Niki de Saint Phalle, they explored what kind of public art piece they wanted to implement. They loved the Nanas and decided they wanted to incorporate them at different scales on a lamp with one large scale Nana and the others dancing around the lamp post. They also wanted to show Niki de Saint Phalle’s emotional journey from darkness to light from black and white to brilliant color. They worked collaboratively for the entire composition from the black and white tree growing up towards the celebratory pieces at the top. At the top the Nana is pouring water which is reflected with mirrors that are mosaiced down the lamp post and pooling on the concrete lamp post base.

"I love the colors and boldness of Niki de Saint Phalle’s forms. They are eye catching and send a strong message of feminism and joy. I loved working on this piece and it was incredibly satisfying to see it completed. In the time frame we had, the final piece came out amazing and was a great example of teamwork and collaboration. The install day was fun and the mosaic work added an amazing touch with the sun shining on it. I hope that everyone who passes by it feels the expressiveness, femininity and freedom that the piece symbolizes."

“My first forays into this project were rocky. I was excited by the idea of the lamp post project but I was ultimately overwhelmed and daunted by the sheer volume of source material and possible routes. Glazing was long and arduous. Color Storm was my motivation and I saw it through. I am ultimately impressed with the project as a whole and of my specific part. There was advice and critiques all through the project but I ultimately decided and carried out what had to be done on my piece. Im over the moon, or I suppose in this case the sun?”