Nepenthes (sculpture)
| Nepenthes | |
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,_Portland,_Oregon,_2015.jpg)
One of the sculptures in 2015
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 Nepenthes
Location in Portland, Oregon
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| Artist | Dan Corson |
| Year | 2013 |
| Type | Sculpture |
| Subject | Nepenthes |
| Dimensions | 5.2 m (17 ft) |
| Location | Portland, Oregon, United States |
| 45°31′28″N 122°40′38″W / 45.524416°N 122.677309°WCoordinates: 45°31′28″N 122°40′38″W / 45.524416°N 122.677309°W | |
| Website | dancorson |
Nepenthes is a series of four sculptures by artist Dan Corson, installed in 2013 along Northwest Davis Street in the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, in the United States. The work was inspired by the genus of carnivorous plants of the same name, known as tropical pitcher plants. The sculptures are 17 feet (5.2 m) tall and glow in the dark due to photovoltaics.
Nepenthes is a series of four sculptures by Dan Corson. Located along Northwest Davis Street between Fifth and Eighth Avenues, the pieces are inspired by the genus of carnivorous plants of the same name, commonly referred to as tropical pitcher plants. According to Corson and the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC), which maintains the sculpture series, the work and genus are named after the "magical Greek potion that eliminates sorrow and suffering". The agency said that Nepenthes "insert[s] a quirky expression of nature into an urban environment" and celebrates the "unique and diverse community" of Portland's Old Town Chinatown neighborhood. Each bulbous-shaped sculpture is nearly 17 feet (5.2 m) tall and glows in the dark due to photovoltaics.
The work was commissioned by TriMet's Portland Mall Project in an attempt to increase "pedestrian connectivity" between Old Town Chinatown and the Pearl District. Corson was hired by the Portland Mall Project's design team, which was led by ZGF Architects LLP. The Old Town/Chinatown Visions Committee was also involved in early stages of the project. Once the project evolved from a lighting project into a sculpture, TriMet asked RACC to facilitate the project on behalf of the city's public art collection. The project had a $300,000 budget and required several design changes. RACC assembled a panel of "original stakeholders", artists and neighbors, to refine Corson's design. The agency worked with Portland Transportation to determine the exact placement of the pieces. Some of them were reportedly placed in "awkward" locations in order to receive direct light so the solar panels could function properly, or to accommodate infrastructure beneath the sidewalk. The sculptures were installed in May 2013.
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