Design Intent
It is the intent of this artistic relief to activate the site at 115 4th Street and would serve as a reflection on the multifaceted life that occurs Downtown.  Downtown Albuquerque is a place where both the good and bad of the city meet. Its intensities can be seen in the presence of great wealth while also great poverty: the hustle of day-to-day business, active nightlife, urban living as well as drug abuse, under privilege and homelessness occur on any given day or night. These good and bad faces of downtown seem to culminate and gather at the 4th Street Mall and while they are not always pleasant they are at the heart of this great city and a voice behind this work.

Technology
Through the use of emergent technology in the form of digital design and fabrication this relief will reflect the life of Downtown both figuratively and physically. The undulating surface is constructed of 2,560 reflective surfaces. 640 pyramidal modules or “Spines” 
6”x 6’ x 1/2”- 6” in dimension have been computer generated along a parent surface utilizing an advanced computational design technique known as scripting* in particular, Rhinoscript** in the Rhinoceros 3D*** environment. The Peaks of these modules grow as they occur from left to right from a height of 1/2” to 6” at the furthest right module and are oriented according to the normal**** of the undulating surface. These modules are flattened or unfolded digitally then nested***** on to 4’-0”x 8’-0”sheets for cutting. Fabrication of individual modules is achieved through the use of sheet metal stock, which is machined and cut with advanced digital cutting machines such as plasma, water jet, or laser cutters, which interpret CAD drawings for tool paths.  The Modules are then bent and connected utilizing pop rivet fasteners.

Stimulation of Local Economy
A local metal shop will be utilized for the machining and finishing of the modules as well as the sub frame creating localized economic stimulus.

ISEA 2012
Through its use of advanced digital techniques the artistic relief could be showcased as one of Albuquerque’s active responses to the ideals of art and technology set forth by the upcoming International Symposium on Electronic Art.

* Scripting: A computer based language. With scripting “you can quickly add functionality to Rhino, or automate repetitive tasks.” (http://wiki.mcneel.com/developer/rhinoscript)
** RhinoScript: A scripting tool based on Microsoft's VBScript language. With RhinoScript, you can quickly add functionality to Rhino, or automate repetitive tasks.
*** Rhinoceros is a computer aided 3D Modeling software.
**** Normal: Perpendicular
***** Nesting: The optimization and orientation of objects to save material and reduce waste during the fabrication process.