Zephyrring Into the Future

Zephyrring Into the Future is an installation I crafted for the Spring Enchantment Festival at Iowa State University's Reiman Gardens, located in the Children’s Garden. It is an honor to have my work in a space that nurtures the young minds: children are the present and future, and the way we shape our world today will define the one they inherit.

This installation invites reflection on the colossal challenges we face for sustainability and the many roles that technology plays in our response to them. Through an intentional juxtaposition of scales, it encourages visitors to consider both the enormity of these issues and the power we hold to address them. The structures in the scene—the barn and wind turbine—are built at 1/64th the scale of their real-life counterparts, while the living beings—the cat and the visitors—are life-sized. Walking through the installation, you might find yourself standing eye to eye with the wind turbine, a perspective that shifts the way we see both the problem and the solution.

This contrast highlights two perspectives: first, the magnitude of the challenge—the turbine, towering over the barn, serves as a reminder of the scale of our energy and environmental needs. Second, the power we have as individuals and communities—compared to these small structures, you stand as a towering force, echoing the potential we hold when we come together to create solutions.

Take a peek inside the barn, and you might hear the kitty meowing and purring at you, a reminder that this world is alive and full of voices, both seen and unseen. The land we walk upon is our home, and with thoughtful action, we can ensure it remains beautiful and welcoming for generations to come. Zephyrring Into the Future,  invites you to observe, to imagine, to reflect, and to act, because the future is not something we wait for; it is something we build every single day.