An arc of mirrored posts installed by American artist Phillip K Smith III reflected the colours of the Southern Californian landscape as they changed throughout the day.

The Quarter Mile Arc installation stretches in a gentle curve along the sand at the seaside town of Laguna Beach.

It was installed from 4 to 6 November 2016, as part of the Laguna Art Museum’s Art and Nature programme.

 

Clad in stainless steel polished to a mirror finish, the 250 posts are embedded into the beach so they stand evenly spaced to create a partial barrier between the town and the sea. Each measures almost twice the height of an average adult.

 

Phillip used the slithers of reflective surfaces to mirror the landscape, as well as the soft light and dramatic sunsets that Southern California is famous for.

“Stretching along much of Main Beach, the arc forms a visible marker between the man-made and natural worlds, and reflects the changing colours of the ocean, sky, and shoreline throughout the day and night,” said the artist.

 

Born in Los Angeles in 1972, Phillip explores perceptions of light, colour and space in his work. He has previously set up shiny cuboids at Coachella festival that transformed from mirrors by day to glowing neon beacons by night.
Photography and video are by  Lance Gerber.

 


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