Kevin Berry

Stream of Consciousness

The artist, Kevin Berry/South Mountain Studios collaborated and consulted with the design team consisting of HonorHealth Osborn Neuroscience Institute Project Manager – CBRE, Devenney Group Architects, PK Associates: Structural Engineering, and Oakland Construction, the general contractors for the project. 

The artwork is site-specific and is integrated both conceptually and architecturally through the design’s contemporary style and neuroscience inspired theme. The intent of the piece is to inspire the public and bring awareness to the type of work being performed nearby. This 10-foot-high by 237-foot-wide art wall consists of 235 steel, 24-inch-by-36-inch tiles and 159 hand-sculpted precast concrete, 24-inch-by-36-inch tiles.

The concrete tile pattern is inspired by and meant to convey the interconnected network of neurons and dendrite nerve fibers that run parallel to the spine transmitting signals to the brain. The tiles exhibit a complex neuron-and-dendrite-like pattern combined with green glass marbles embedded into the tiles representing neuron cells. The 1-inch diameter green glass marbles are epoxy-anchored into holes in the concrete tiles and are halfway exposed on the surface of the tiles. The green marbles, representing neuron cells, are lit by natural sunlight, creating points of light that glow and can be seen from both sides of the wall. The “brain” wall sculpture, composed of woven wire mesh, steel, and large pieces of colored glass, will also be illuminated by the sun as well as by electrical flood lights installed on the back side of the wall to illuminate the sculpture at night.