HADDAD | DRUGAN

NET-SPAR-FLOAT is a series of three kinetic art installations proposed for downtown Astoria along the Columbia River, as part of the Astoria Riverwalk. The piece express the interconnectivity between Astoria’s unique marine environment and rich fishing heritage. Each installation comes to life with energy incited from wind and tide, and the shifting cinematic skyscape.

The triptych is proposed to be installed on three relic structures that stand in the water, alluding to the previous elevated city edge that once stood on the “submerged” lands of the Astoria riverfront.

SPAR is a matrix of repeating vertical rods inspired by the forms of Astoria riverfront water grasses, boat masts, stacked cans, and pallets.  The rods will play with the local wind and light.

FLOAT is made of painted fishing net floats woven into a mesh with stainless steel cable.  The piece lays on the water’s surface, wrapping around a concrete relic, and expresses the river’s fluctuations as it moves up and down with the changing tides, swells, and wakes.

NET is a suspended tapestry composed of three sections that abstract the forms of sails, nets, and weights used on Astoria’s early “butterfly fleet.”  The top tier has reflective spinning “wind lures” shaped like sails, the middle tier is made of stainless steel wire knit into a diamond pattern like that of gillnets, and the bottom tier consists of strands of fishing beads and lead sinkers.