Jacob’s Ladder in Brooklyn, New York by BanG studio

Article source: BanG studio

In conjunction with their participation in American Express’ Partners in Preservation program, Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn has commissioned BanG studio to design, fabricate, and erect an art installation inside the synagogue’s main sanctuary. The given theme of the piece is Jacob’s Ladder reflecting the synagogue’s special connection to the story.
In Genesis, Jacob stops for the night en route from the house of his father, Isaac to Paddan-aram. He dreams of a ladder set upon the earth and stretching to heaven. In his dream, angels ascend and descend the ladder. God appears to Jacob promising the land on which he sleeps to him and his descendants. When Jacob awakens he realizes that, “surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.”

Image Courtesy Todd France

• Architects: BanG studio
• Project: Jacob’s Ladder
• Location: Brooklyn, New York
• Photographs: Todd France
• Software used: Rhino with Grasshopper for the modeling with excel spreadsheets to keep track of tabulated information and then we rendered with Mental ray and 3dStudio Max with Photoshop to touch up

Image Courtesy Todd France

Jacob’s Ladder by BanG (JLB) is a site-specific art installation, which reinterprets the biblical story. The piece takes the form of an enormous musical instrument which the public is encouraged to “play.” JLB is constructed from 320 cardboard tubes and 80 metal tubes bolted and lashed together into a twisting and torqueing ladder-like form.

Like the biblical Jacob’s Ladder, JLB inhabits a transitional space. The first of the rungs can be seen from outside the synagogue, drawing visitors up the stairs and in through the main doors. The piece slithers through the entry vestibule and into the main sanctuary where it curves left and climbs abruptly to connect to the Jacob’s Ladder depicted in the synagogue’s stained glass window.

Image Courtesy Todd France

Along one side of the ladder 80 metal tubes are integrated into the structure turning JLB into a playable musical instrument. These tubes are pitched and arranged according the diatonic scale. Visitors are encouraged to “play” the piece ascending and descending along the scale.

The mallets used to play JLB are to be fabricated and customized by the children of Congregation Beth Elohim from a kit of parts supplied by BanG studio. The kit consists of five differently sized wooden mallet heads, wooden dowel shafts, and selection of fabrics and ribbons. Children will assemble and decorate mallets. By virtue of their differing sizes and coverings the mallets will produce different sounds when they are used to strike the metal tubes. In this way each mallet is a tool for reinterpreting the structure.

Image Courtesy Todd France

Image Courtesy Todd France

Image Courtesy Todd France

Image Courtesy Todd France

Image Courtesy Todd France

Image Courtesy Todd France

Tags: Brooklyn, New York

Categories: 3dS Max, Grasshopper, Mental Ray, Photoshop, Rhino

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