Designed by Scott Parsons ‘87, professor of art, and David Griggs, Denver-based artist, “Foucault’s Dream” is a pendulum positioned at the north entrance of the Froiland Science Complex. The pendulum is located three stories high within the staircase, and has been called a “true blend of art and science.” According to Parsons and Griggs, the work was inspired by the motion described in the play of orbits and spheres — movement in everything from subatomic particles to the orbits of comets and planets.
The pendulum swings above a disk, made with tempered-glass, bronze, epoxy terrazzo, LED lighting and stainless steel. The piece measures 15.5 feet by 15.5-feet-wide and 38-feet-tall. The floor is said to echo the sky at night and the sky describes the motion of the earth in the floor below. The pendulum mechanism was designed by Dr. Eric Wells, professor of physics, and Darren Fujitani.
The project was supported by a gift from Howard ‘50 and Eunice Hovland ‘50.