Possibility
Experience the intersection of the natural world and modern architectural design. 'Possibility' is a monumental 10-foot spherical installation composed of 4,000 hand-woven cottonwood sticks, now permanently installed in Denver.
Possibility | 4,000 Cottonwood Sticks | 120 × 120 × 120 in (10 x 10 x 10 ft)
Possibility is an artwork that explores the prospect of a symbiotic relationship between humans and nature. Clowes’s work incorporates ideas about interconnection and juxtaposition, revealing the hope and tension inherent in equilibrium. Referencing schools of fish, Clowes suspends local Cottonwood sticks into a collective body of seemingly effortless interrelationships. This installation is a metaphor for ecological alliances and the boundlessness of possibility.
The Making of ‘Possibility’
Go behind the scenes of the creation and installation of Possibility, a 10-foot suspended spherical sculpture by artist Theresa Clowes. From the gathering and process of 4,000 individual cottonwood sticks to the complex suspension within a modern Denver architectural lobby, this film captures the labor, materiality, and vision required to bring this permanent public work to life.
Cinematography by: Conor King with Third Dune Productions
Murmuration
Experience 'Murmuration,' a site-specific public art installation by Theresa Clowes. Suspended in a luxury Denver residential lobby, this large-scale sculpture of floating cottonwood sticks explores the fluid harmony between our natural world and modern architecture.
Murmuration | 2,500 Cottonwood Sticks | 36 × 96 × 192 in (3 x 8 x 16 ft)
Murmuration, the Dryden lobby art installation by Theresa Clowes, captures the spirit of Colorado, transforming the indoor space into an immersive natural experience. Renowned architect Louis Kahn once said, “The nature of space reflects what it wants to be.” Clowes’ artwork echoes this sentiment, illustrating the equilibrium between humanity, nature, and architecture.
In this dynamic installation, Clowes interacts with the striking features of the lobby by suspending 2,500 Colorado Cottonwood branches, arranged to mimic the organic, shape-shifting formations of starling birds in flight. A “murmuration” is a group of 500 or more starlings flying together at sunset to evade predators and stay warm in colder months. Scientists believe no single leader dictates the movement of the group; rather, each starling focuses only on its six or seven neighbors to create a phenomenal cloud-like mass that twists, turns, and swoops across the evening sky.
This installation, also titled Murmuration, embodies the power of unity, where an individual's contribution is integral to the success of the whole. Located in a central gathering space for residents and guests, the artwork serves as a metaphor for ecological interconnectedness and the joyful possibility of collective action.
Schooling Possibility
Discover 'Schooling Possibility,' a monumental suspended sculpture by Theresa Clowes at the Limelight Hotel in Boulder, Colorado. This site-specific installation features 2,500 cottonwood sticks unified into a massive, circular form that evokes the fluid movement of a school of fish within a modern industrial interior.
Schooling Possibility | 2,700 Cottonwood Sticks | 36 × 120 × 96 in (3 x 10 x 8 ft)
Schooling Possibility, located in the lobby of the Limelight Hotel Boulder, captures the spirit of Colorado by transforming the indoor space into an immersive natural experience. Renowned architect Louis Kahn once stated, “The nature of space reflects what it wants to be.” Clowes’ artwork echoes this sentiment by illustrating the possibility of balance between humanity, nature, and architecture. Using 1,500 Colorado Cottonwood sticks to mimic a school of fish, Clowes’ creation symbolizes the power of unity, where each individual's contribution is crucial to collective success. There is no single leader directing the school of fish; rather, changes in direction or speed emerge collectively from the interactions among individuals. When fish at the edge of a school sense a threat or discover a new food source, their shifts in movement are adopted by nearby fish, and the information ripples outward until the entire group responds. Situated in a central gathering area for hotel guests, this artwork serves as a metaphor for ecological interconnectedness and the joyful possibility of living symbiotically with our environment.
Historic Significance
An immersive journey into the fluid energy of water. Discover 'Iconic Meanderings,' a large-scale 3D wall installation created out of indigo-dyed sticks by Theresa Clowes exploring the Colorado River Delta, shown at Walker Fine Art Gallery, Denver.
The Colorado River - Delta
Historic Significance | Indigo Dyed Cottonwood Sticks | 36 × 168 × 240 in (3 x 14 x 20 ft)
Historical Significance wall sculpture focuses on the Colorado River Delta, where the river once met the Gulf of California. Once a vast, thriving wetland, the delta has suffered dramatic declines over the past 50 years, with the last natural, unassisted flow into the Gulf of California occurring in the early 1960s. Where do human impact and natural change intersect on a river? Conservation efforts aim to restore these wetlands and reestablish the river’s natural flow to the Gulf of California. Initiatives include "pulse flow" agreements allowing controlled dam releases, habitat restoration projects to replant native vegetation, community-driven water conservation efforts, and awareness initiatives advocating for nature-based conservation. How can restoring wetlands mitigate the effects of drought and floods?
Rather than focusing solely on the threats facing the Colorado River, Clowes’s work is inspired by the potential for a symbiotic relationship with nature. Her artwork continues to explore concepts of balance, interconnectedness, and environmental resilience – bridging material and theory to deepen our understanding of water’s vital role in the world.
Iconic Meandering
Explore 'Historic Significance,' a dynamic suspended sculpture by Theresa Clowes, exhibited at the Walker Fine Art Gallery, Denver. Inspired by the erosive power of the Colorado River in forming the Horseshoe Bend, this installation of indigo-dyed cottonwood sticks captures a decade-long study of environmental resilience and the fluid energy of water in the American West.
The Colorado River Delta
Iconic Meandering | Indigo Dyed Wood | 60 × 120 × 36 in (5 x 10 x 3 ft)
Iconic Meandering is an installation inspired by the striking form of Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River. A meander is a natural curve or loop in a river formed over time from sediment erosion and deposition. Horseshoe Bend is a stunning example of meander, where the process carved dramatic cliffs in the surrounding Navajo Sandstone. Sadly, this historic landmark is increasingly at risk due to our human footprint. What can a river teach us? Conservation efforts are underway, including sustainable tourism management, dam operations that simulate natural river flows, habitat restoration, and climate mitigation strategies. What ethical responsibilities do we hold toward future generations in preserving historical landmarks, ensuring equitable water access, and maintaining healthy ecosystems along the Colorado River?
Rather than focusing solely on the threats facing the Colorado River, Clowes’s work is inspired by the potential for a symbiotic relationship with nature. Her artwork continues to explore concepts of balance, interconnectedness, and environmental resilience – bridging material and theory to deepen our understanding of water’s vital role in the world.
Symbiotic Relationships
Symbiotic Relationships | Cottonwood Sticks + Silverware | 36 × 120 × 84 in (3 × 10 × 7 ft)
In 2009, a group of 28 scientists from around the world came together to create the “planetary boundaries framework,“ which identified nine processes required to maintain life on Earth. Humans have surpassed the safe threshold for four of these boundaries. (1)
Symbiosis describes the state in which dissimilar organisms live in intimate association or close union. Symbiotic relationships provide mutual benefits; however, such equitable harmony between nature and humans is arguably out of balance today. Facts show that the environment is being destroyed at a rate unprecedented over the past 10,000 years. Some point out that “the environment is not really being 'destroyed' in the sense that the dirt and rocks are just fine; rather, humans are negatively impacting Earth’s biosphere.” The consequences of this degradation are so severe it threatens civilization.
Rather than dwelling on this ominous danger, Clowes’s work is inspired by close exchanges that have the prospect for equilibrium. Her work incorporates ideas of interconnection and juxtaposition through both material and theoretical means. In this particular installation, titled Symbiotic Relationships, Clowes presents an optimistic visual articulation of the prospect of living symbiotically with nature. Referencing schools of fish, Clowes suspends natural elements (sticks) and human-made objects (flattened utensils) in flowing, effortless interrelationship. This installation is a metaphor that addresses global warming, our environmental impact, and the joy of imagining possibilities.
1) https://news.vice.com/article/humans-are-destroying-the-environment-at-a-rate-unprecedented-in-over-10000-years, Jenny Chen, January 16, 2005
