Arts Fest sculptural lighting piece beckons conversation about rural poverty

A husband, wife pair will be showing off their sculptural lighting installation at the Columbus Arts Festival. Christabel and Samuel Wagner’s piece will replicate a mobile home but will be made entirely out of plexiglass. During the day, the sunshine will project an almost stained-glass image of the structure onto the ground. At night, it will glow upward from within. They call it Structural Circumstances E.G. 2. It will be 24′ x 8′.

This installation commission is the first of its kind at the Arts Festival and comes with a $25,000 reward.

Inspiration for this artwork was derived from Samuel’s rural Ohio upbringing where mobile homes were ever-present.

“Bringing cultural symbols of a neglected people in contact with the highbrow art world enables us to have a conversation about beauty, faith and principles with a wider audience,” said Samuel. “We hope that this mobile home, as a symbol of rural poverty, lets those from small communities see their culture through new eyes, as potentially beautiful, even spiritual.”

You’ll be able to check out Structural Circumstances E.G. 2 just south of the fountains on the east side of Bicentennial Park during the festival June 9-11.

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