AI or RI - Real Intelligence - The FloraTrees

AI or RI
Real Intelligence
The FloraTrees

In the South End of Boston, the FloraTrees were installed in a great space, called the SoWa Power Station. They were for Ferment 2024, a conference on biology design by Gingko Bioworks. A great collaboration was had by all!

The brief or proposal was to build several large scale biomorphic sculptures. I knew we could build these unusual sculptures, pictured below.

The Original Drawing — AI Trees, created by hand with RI, Real Intelligence and HI Human Intelligence

At the site visit, speaking with the designers, they informed us that the images were created with AI.

Immersive Installation Fabric sculptures in Boston — RI – Real Intelligence and Say Hello to HI, Human Intelligence, Human Instinct and Human Interaction! These works were made by humans by hand.

OK, interesting. Can AI build it? We can. The Originators can.

Today, we often work with 3d models for viewing and sharing with our client for approvals. After that we create the patterns and pathways for the CNC laser cutter. Human’s still sew our projects. We are the eyes and act as a project manager and installation supervisor.

This project was too difficult for us to explain to the computer, therefore we needed to do it by hand. The old fashion way. Process, process process. My mainframe, the computer in my head designs and controls my hands and that is still the way we craft these sculptures.

Truly hand-made, these FloraTrees were built to be an alien force on the event floor. Indeed they were.

Take a look!
It starts with an idea

Swatches to agree on colors

Color card gets us started. — We carefully look at color, negotiating with our client to enhance the design.

Samples to see the color combinations and techniques

A winner. We proceeded into models with the colors approved

samples to flesh out the color story — Another winner! Samples show the Moss Green to visualize the color story

The color story kelly green with celery — Samples to see color combinations

Samples to see color and texture. — These colors didn’t make the cut!

Models to try the techniques on the build and refine the form

The first round of models, half-scale at home studio

half-scale model of flower trees — The first round of models, half-scale model, built at home studio.

In the studio, full scale model, figuring it out!

Testing a little lighting on the full scale model. Getting ready to pull patterns!

Full scale models and manipulations into final sculptures.

Wizard Studios Events were terrific hosts for The Originators Design to build these spandex or Lycra stretch fabric sculptures created by hand, drawn by AI — In the studio, The actual work full scale model, Getting close to finishing!

unusual beautiful tension fabric structures floral trees — Testing the sculptures at our workplace, Wizard Studios. Getting ready to finish!

Heidi and the stretch fabric sculptures created by hand and drawn by AI before they go the Ferment 2024 by Gingko and designed by Grow Marketing — Heidi showing the scale of these giant fabric sculptures as we test them at Wizard Studios

The big test of the fabric tree sculptures tension fabric structures before they go the Ferment 2024 by Gingko — Final tests of the FloraTrees before they go to the conference in Boston.

Looking up at the stretch fabric spandex sculptures created by hand and drawn by AI before they go the Ferment 2024 by Gingko and designed by Grow Marketing — Standing tall and seeing the layers of stretch fabric created by hand and drawn by AI.

Finally, Installation!

For a conference on biology design by Gingko Bioworks, The FloraTrees were installed in the SoWa Power Station — Installation time! These 4 FloraTrees were installed for the Ferment ’24 conference

The FloraTrees were installed in the SoWa Power Station for Ferment 2024, a conference on biology design by Gingko Bioworks. — Installation of the FloraTrees in the SoWa Power Station

All hand made,
Created from Spandex Fabric,
A metal frame altered with plastic tubes.
Rigged at 16’ tall
12’ around on top and 2’ at the bottom

Take a look at the final design as we present
The FloraTrees in Boston