Artprize 2025 ‘Forward growth’ at atomic object | Grand Rapids, MI 2025
A temporary window mural installed as a part of Artprize 2025. I consider this piece a visual question on the impact of AI advances on the natural world.
From left to right loons dive, splash, and fly amongst a background of water and longleaf pondweed, a background that gradually shifts to glowing circuit board lines.
The spirit of the north, the loon is a symbol of the wilderness where trees grow tall and waters remain dark and still. A resilient yet delicate waterbird, the loon’s heavy bones and set-back legs make her a powerful diver, yet she can barely walk on land and only takes to the air by the power generated by kicking those legs off water. A loon removed from water is stranded.
Recent conversations about the freshwater usage of AI data centers brought to mind the loon’s connection to the waters of the Great Lakes. This mural painted on the windows of Atomic Object balances the natural world of the loon amongst glowing circuit board lines representing AI networks and their data centers. It gently explores the potential consequences of such convenient advances. Not a declaration, but a question. What responsibilities must we take up to ensure that technological human advances and the natural world can exist in harmony?
I hope you get to see this one on Wealthy Street! I hope it opens up some conversations, plants the seeds of some questions. I hope you see it and say, “loons? , I love loons!”