Alumaphora

Carol Turner

Palmer, AK

Lighting Designer: Ben Smith

Light has a way of anchoring your day and emotions. Alumaphora explores nature's playfulness through color, light, and shape. Interested in ecology and design, Carol’s recent motherhood has sparked both wild playfulness and enjoyment of the little things. Snow mounds surround her days on the playground as an elementary art teacher. Her summers are filled with adventures in the backyard of Alaska, chasing her toddler, and collecting rocks and flowers. The sculptural forms at Olbrich Botanical Gardens reflect her daily experiences with nature and her perspective on the dramatic light of Alaska. The forms are colored using a limited pallet; light emits, fading on and off, from the sculptural forms referencing human breath.

Pro Tip

Second level is accessible by ramp or stairs; guests must descend back down the ramp if exiting the stairs is not possible. 75% of the installation is viewable from the first floor. After visiting the conservatory stop and grab a drink at the beverage station (Fri/Sat only) before continue on the exhibit route in the outdoor gardens!

Inside the Installation

Materials: foam, resin, latex paint, LED, speakers

  1. Sculptures are visualized on paper, then an armature is created using cardboard, tape, and tinfoil.

  2. Cardboard/tinfoil shapes are sprayed with house foam insulation several times to build a thick layer to carve and sand.

  3. Once the surface is built-up, it's then shaped into abstracted plant-like forms by using a power sander and box cutters.

  4. Once sanded, forms are inspected for odd areas, filled with FoamCoat and spackle, and then sanded again.

  5. Forms then are given a hard resin shell and latex paint coating.

  6. Creating each sculpture takes roughly 10–30 hours from start to finish.

  7. Obtaining materials in Alaska can be challenging. Sourcing resin and finding foam was difficult due to shipping charges and restrictions on importing items into the state.

  8. Sculptures are being driven from Alaska to Wisconsin by the artist!

Artist Bio

Carol Turner

Carol Turner explores ecology and its adaptation under the pressures of both global warming and human intervention. Interested in materiality and design, Carol is known for her photographic and installation works, which document scientific archives and promote conservation themes. Responsive to zoos, national parks, and social media, Turner draws inspiration from her background in conservation education and growing up on a ranch in central Oklahoma. Her work has been shown in museums and galleries across the United States, including The Contemporary at Blue Star, Non-Fiction Gallery, and the University of Wisconsin.