Fluxion
Fluxion
- Creator: Byron Folwell
- Date: 2016
- Location: Boise WaterShed
- Types: sculpture (visual work), fountain (water feature), interactive art
- Materials: steel (alloy), aluminum (metal)
- Collection: Site-Based Works, Public Works Public Art
"Fluxion" is an interactive, multi-piece outdoor sculpture that invites visitors to explore the dynamics of water through its components: a concrete reservoir, a weathering steel dam, and an open-grate spillway. Together, these elements offer multiple ways to engage with the flow of water, encouraging hands-on participation. The metal dam sculpture is the focal point of interaction, drawing visitors to a collection of operable valves, weirs, and channels. By manipulating these elements, visitors can control the water's movement from the reservoir to the spillway, and ultimately downstream across the campus. This water-based artwork fosters interactive learning through play and experimentation, allowing participants to experience firsthand how the flow can be altered. When too much water passes through the dam, the reservoir empties, only to be replenished by a nearby piece, Headwaters, by Boise artist Matt Grover. The cycle of refilling and releasing highlights the ever-changing nature of water, inviting visitors to return and explore new outcomes each time.
