Client

Overview

Spectrum is a series of “murals” created for Hyde-Addison Elementary in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. The school asked us to develop two exterior pieces that could also be used as learning tools for the students. A full spectrum of color is used to visualize the effects of ROYGBIV, while another series helps add vibrancy to an outdoor science classroom.

Goals

Spectrum utilizes some familiar patterns from previous work and combines them with a tiling technique we have developed through a number of projects. These “murals” are actually individual 0.09″ aluminum tiles cut out, painted separately, and adhered to a 0.25″ aluminum backer panel. The subtle depth in the panels adds some visual interest to the piece and a layer of anti-graffiti coating will help protect the finish for years to come.

Process

We’ve never used the actual full spectrum of color in a project before, and this was a great opportunity to add an element of education into the work. The school wanted the project to help students learn about color, and the long blank planter wall facing the playground was a perfect spot. Directly on the other side of the wall is a sunken outdoor classroom that will mainly be used for science experiments. Two more graphic pieces flank a whiteboard and are inspired by patterns found in nature adding vibrancy and excitement to the space.