Artwork copyright Benjamin Hirschkoff. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Tom Collicott.

Artwork copyright Benjamin Hirschkoff. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Tom Collicott, 2015.

Artwork copyright Benjamin Hirschkoff. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Tom Collicott.

Artwork copyright Benjamin Hirschkoff. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Tom Collicott.

Artwork copyright Benjamin Hirschkoff. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Tom Collicott.

Artwork copyright Benjamin Hirschkoff. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Tom Collicott.

Utilitus Cloud, 2016

Benjamin Hirschkoff
American (born 1972)

Location: Valley View Middle School, Snohomish

About the Artwork

Artist Ben Hirschkoff's aluminum and LED light sculpture Utilitus Cloud represents the intersection of nature and man-made utility. It depicts what a cloud might look like if it were a robot and subject to human control. The sculpture is composed of four layers of cloud-shaped aluminum. The surface is scattered with several bolt heads and an arrangement of knobs, switches, and vents. Between the layers are LED light strips programmed to activate different colors and animated patterns in sync with the school's bell schedule. Hirschkoff notes that the artwork comments on "our seemingly relentless fascination with control mechanisms." It is intended to inspire wonder and a sense of playfulness, important things for students to remember during the formative years of middle school.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Snohomish School District.

About the Artist

Seattle-based artist Ben Hirschkoff creates mixed media sculptural installations, collages, and ceramic artworks. He received a Bachelor of Arts in studio art from Humboldt State University in California and a Master of Fine Arts in ceramics from the University of Washington in Seattle in 2006.