Inflorescence
The project is installed at 250 Third Street, Downtown Los Altos (the paseo next to Yoshi Sushi) and was completed in April 2022. Look for the signs to use augmented reality to make the printed flowers come to life.
Inflorescence is an illuminated, interactive art installation originally created as a public art project for the City of Los Altos by Phil Spitler and Liz Hickok, consisting of larger-than-life native wildflowers, glowing, transforming, and activating an underutilized public space. The artist duo merged their talents to connect the public to the healing and inspiring natural forces found right in our backyards. Hickok distorted her photographs of local wildflowers, resulting in surreal images that reflect on our current (un)reality. Spitler added a layer of augmented reality, which brings the flowers to life as they appear to dance and grow in three-dimensional space.
As the sun goes down, colored light radiates from behind the artwork in beautifully choreographed sequences. Vibrant, ethereal flowers are projected onto the surroundings, slowly rotating on the ground and the walls. These projections add movement to the site, and draw viewers in. Children and adults alike love exploring the projections, spinning and becoming enveloped in the color and light, placing themselves inside the floral blooms.
Sponsored by Arts Los Altos. Thank you to Karen Druker and Los Altos donors for your contributions toward this Paseo Project.