Schooling Possibility
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.
