Andrea Polli

The project that I admire is Andrea Polli’s “Garrison Canal” light artwork that is in Downtown Pittsburgh. I have seen this work of hers in person, and it is very famous in Pittsburgh due to its beauty at night which makes it very instagram-able. What I did not know about his project was that it is a weather responsive light artwork. The light turns the alleyway into an imaginary underwater future world of big data. The lights transform color and are animated in response to real time changes in local weather conditions from a weather station in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Andrea had previously done another project called “Energy Flow” on the Rachel Carson bridge and wanted to create another artwork that was similar. The project is meant to liven Pittsburgh’s alleyways with artwork, lighting and other interactive elements. I really liked the simplicity of this project and how beautiful it ends up being at dark. It really makes a dark and scary alleyway more inviting and beautiful to the average pedestrian.

Andrea Polli is an environmental artist that uses art, science, and technology in her works. Her work includes media installations, public artwork, community projects, performances, publications, and public exhibitions/events. Her artwork looks to raise awareness of environmental issues. She studied at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago for her MFA in Time Arts, and she has a PhD in practice-led research from the University of Plymouth in England. She is currently a professor at the University of New Mexico. She has also worked at Columbia College Chicago, Robert Morris College, and Hunter College of CUNY. She has co-edited a book,
“Far Field: Digital Culture, Climate Change and the Poles”. She has also authored “Hack the Grid” published by the Carneige Museum of Art. She has public work all over the world, including Pittsburgh, Utah, North Carolina, Germany, and Croatia.