This April we installed the 30ft high Rose Chandelier in the San Diego Museum of Art for the 2019 Art Alive exhibition. It took our team over three months to create, three days to install and we used over 4,000 roses!

Inspiration
The design was inspired by the Alfred Eisenstadt photography exhibit in the museum and conveys the concept of flowers frozen in time – just as moments are captured in photographs. A floating garden of meandering red and black roses is encased within clear acrylic rectangular shapes suspended from the rotunda ceiling. Occasionally roses escape their “ice block” confinement, as if growing naturally. The installation’s modern chandelier shape enveloped visitors in roses.

Construction Details
The Installation required full 3D rendering and mapping that specified exact locations for each of the 44 cases on the 17 rigging points. Using the two story height of the museum’s rotunda space involved using a chain motor to move the structure up and down. Metal rods and steel wiring were installed within each case which connected them together at varying heights. Mirrored aluminum square panels were placed on top of the acrylic cases that held roses to hide mechanics. This reflective element contributed to the intended question for the viewer of where the roses began and ended.
Due to the exhibits four day duration and limited access to the higher portions of the installation, silk and fresh roses were used.

Behind The Scenes
Last fall the design of the installation was finalized. Eight months later, after endless hours spent on logistics, we arrived in San Diego to find it in full bloom. The museum is in the center of Balboa Park and is stunning. Every morning we replaced fresh roses to keep them perfect for the museum’s exhibit, glamorous Gala Dinner, Bloom Bash party and media events.

We are so grateful for all of the museum volunteers and staff as well for the amazing rigging team at PEP Creative. To see the installation process, check out the video below!

Live. Breathe. Bloom.
Jennifer

CHECK OUT OUR BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO