She Changes

41°10′24″N 8°41′19″W / 41.1734°N 8.6887°W / 41.1734; -8.6887

She Changes
ArtistJanet Echelman
Year2005
TypeTENARA architectural fiber (ePTFE)
Dimensions45 m diameter (148 ft)
LocationCidade Salvador Plaza, Porto, Portugal

She Changes, known locally as anémona (the anemone), is a sculpture designed by artist Janet Echelman for the cities of Porto and Matosinhos, Northern Portugal. The installation consists of three steel poles, cables, a 20-ton steel ring and a net structure of varying densities and colors.[1] The sculpture is Echelman's first permanent public art installation.

Design

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The sculpture is designed to reflect Porto's and Matosinhos's seafaring and industrial heritage. The three support poles are painted to resemble the smokestacks and lighthouses in the area. The net structure is meant to reference the city's fishing industry.[2]

The three support poles range in height from 25–50 m in order to hang the 20-ton, 45 m diameter steel ring at an angle to the ground. The net is woven together from 36 individual sections of varying densities, which give the net its shape. The net material is made of TENARA architectural fiber, a UV-resistant material made of PTFE, Polytetrafluoroethylene.

The netting structure was disassembled for repair in October 2020. The structure was reassembled in April 2021 with new netting. The sculpture weighs approximately 1.5 tonnes.[3]

Awards

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  • 2005 Americans for the Arts Public Art Network Year in Review[4]
  • 2006 Advanced Textiles Association Award of Excellence for Architectural Structures – Other[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Janet Echelman's She Changes". Sculpture Magazine. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
  2. ^ "She Changes". Janet Echelman, Inc. Archived from the original on 2009-04-13. Retrieved 2010-02-18.
  3. ^ Silva, Ana Patrícia. "A anémona já está de volta a Matosinhos". Time Out Porto (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  4. ^ "2005 PUBLIC ART NETWORK YEAR IN REVIEW: SHE CHANGES". Americans for the Arts. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  5. ^ "Previous Winners". Industrial Fabrics Association International, Advanced Textiles Association. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
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