Artwork copyright Douglas Hollis. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Douglas Hollis. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Douglas Hollis. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Douglas Hollis. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Persona, 1999

Douglas Hollis
American (born 1948)

Location: Washington State University, Pullman

About the Artwork

Persona is a kinetic sound sculpture by artist Douglas Hollis that "sings" when wind passes through four spinning weather vanes. Richard H. Miller, WSU's Director of the Office of Student Media, described the sculpture's variations of sound in a 2009 essay, noting "sometimes it's a person blowing into a bottle, or the call of a whale. Sometimes, a man plays a saw. The vanes move. A ghost moans... Perhaps the sound is the persona, spun into life from metal and air."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Washington State University.

About the Artist

Artist Douglas Hollis creates sound-based sculptures and installations that are activated by wind and water. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Michigan.