Biomorphic Lumia

Forest Beacon

J-Walt — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 23:04:23 +0000

Introducing the Forest Beacon sculpture, a mesmerizing creation that captures the essence of a fantastical mushroom or toadstool growing majestically from a stump. This vibrant, multi-colored masterpiece is adorned with shelf mushrooms reminiscent of golden chanterelles, creating an enchanting and otherworldly display.

I’ve crafted various versions of the Forest Beacon’s stump, each unique and captivating. Some feature a wood/plastic filament, offering the look and feel of authentic wood grain, while others utilize shiny, metallic-looking filament to amplify the sculpture’s ethereal charm. Regardless of the variation, the intricate smaller fungi details infuse the piece with a sense of organic growth and movement.

Standing at an impressive 16.5 inches (42 cm) tall, the Forest Beacon is illuminated from within by a single LED bulb, casting a magical glow. The combination of the bright, iridescent cap and the dark, textured stump with golden fungi creates a striking and whimsical appearance, evoking a sense of wonder and enchantment that will captivate all who behold it.

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Lightcrawlers

J-Walt — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 21:44:19 +0000

Introducing Lightcrawlers, the magical modular 3D-printed sculptures that transform your garden into a realm of wonder! Each Lightcrawler is made of translucent, bulbous segments that glow brilliantly with internal solar-powered lights. Designed to mimic a reaching worm or snake with a claw-like head, these sculptures are as dynamic as they are enchanting.

With modular translucent bulbs that connect at a 15-degree angle, you can easily twist each segment to change the creature’s pose, adding character and expression. The legs are also modular, allowing you to adjust their position for perfect balance, making each Lightcrawler a unique piece of art.

Created as garden lights, Lightcrawlers are perfect for illuminating pathways or accenting cozy nooks. These whimsical creatures seem to be seeking or grasping—perhaps searching for more light, or standing guard over your garden. The name “Lightcrawler” is a playful twist on “nightcrawler,” evoking the large earthworms that emerge at night.

During the day, Lightcrawlers glisten attractively in the sunlight. By night, they sparkle with a mesmerizing glow. Just a few hours of sunlight powers their solar panels, and the lights automatically turn on at dusk, providing hours of enchanting illumination.

Add a touch of magic to your garden with Lightcrawlers—captivating by day, dazzling by night!

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Ember Spiral

J-Walt — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 21:03:33 +0000

Introducing the Ember Spiral, a stunning new sculpture species for 2024! This whimsical masterpiece boasts an elegant, flowing spiral design crafted from innovative 3D-printed material that is 30 percent real wood. The surface texture feels remarkably authentic, complete with a rich visible wood grain pattern.

At its core, the sculpture features a captivating spiral base with five branches reaching outwards, each culminating in a mesmerizing flame-like translucent shape. These flames come to life with an array of tiny lights, glowing in vibrant bulbs of red, blue, yellow, and green.

Inspired by the natural elegance of ferns and similar plants that spiral and sprout, the Ember Spiral radiates dynamism and vibrancy. The swirling design and vivid colors evoke a sense of movement and energy, while the illuminated flames cast a warm, inviting glow. This combination of light and color creates a lively, uplifting, and slightly whimsical atmosphere, sparking curiosity and wonder in every viewer.

Standing at 15 inches tall (38 cm), the Ember Spiral is powered by low voltage, low wattage LEDs and can be easily plugged in via USB cable or USB wall adapter. Elevate your space with this extraordinary piece that blends art, nature, and innovation.

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The “Electric Fireworm” Biomorphic Light Sculpture

J-Walt — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 20:32:29 +0000

The “Electric Fireworm” is a new biomorphic light sculpture I designed in early 2024. It’s crafted from 3D printed parts and adorned with dozens of LEDs. It contains computerized lights with endless patterns that convey moods and energy levels. The sculpture is intentionally made to resemble a worm creature or a succulent stalk.

In the process, I worked diligently to ensure the form of the piece flowed with a graceful arch, while adding playful bulbs for visual appeal. Through numerous iterations, I experimented to achieve the desired shape and translucency. I eventually created bulbs that refract light in eye-catching ways. Moreover, the bulbs now even beam light forward, casting small spotlights on walls and objects near the worm.

Designed to be modular, this biomorphic light sculpture stands approximately 26 inches (66 cm) tall. Additionally, it is illuminated with 49 LEDs, which are controlled individually by an internal microcomputer. Consequently, the Electric Fireworm is capable of producing endless variety of animated light patterns and cascades. Some of those patterns are energetic, while others are calmer. As a result, the Electric Fireworm can be configured to match a user’s mood or the mood of a space.

Assembling the creature revealed the need for supports to stand up. That prompted the design of the distinctive worm feet for the base. This addition not only imbues the sculpture with character but firmly places it within the “animal kingdom.”

Following its creation, I embarked on naming the creature. After brainstorming, the word “fireworm” resonated, aligning perfectly with the character of this electric segmented worm. Upon researching, I discovered that not only does a “fireworm” exist in the natural world, but it bears a striking resemblance to my creation. Thus, “Electric Fireworm” became the fitting name.

Looking ahead, I believe the modular design of this biomorphic light sculpture is indeed a success. Not only can I create sculptures taller than the volume of my printer, but each module prints cleanly. As I look to the future, I’m eager to evolve this creature into other forms. Perhaps I’ll continue to utilize the same bulb modules employed in the Electric Fireworm. Or perhaps I’ll explore entirely new designs.

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“Phonifungus” Biomorphic Sculptures

J-Walt — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 22:30:39 +0000

These biomorphic sculptures are my “Phonifungus” series. It’s a work-in-progress . My goal is to create beautiful and curious art for the home and the garden. These are still in the experimental stage. I plan to design and build the proper lights for these. And I also plan to make them much larger!

These biomorphic sculptures are inspired by the Stinkhorn Fungus, a natural exotic plant. I create each phonifungus with a polygonal lattice, like most computer models. Then I allow the areas between the edges to dissolve away. It’s much like the natural process of “apoptosis“: programmed cell death. It’s the process by which blobs of a fetus seem to melt away to become refined fingers and toes.

(The term “Phonifungus” simply means “phony fungus”. A biomorphic sculpture is artificial, after all!)

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Seed Pods

J-Walt — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 17:51:57 +0000

This Seed Pod shape is simple and elegant.

They are made to refract the inner light. I take advantage of the 3D printed layer lines to get a fresnel effect, which enhances the lights within. When I get these together in a cluster, they become enchanting.

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The Night Gourd

J-Walt — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 17:46:32 +0000

The Night Gourd is a form made for the garden, made to enhance and accentuate nature and the outdoors. The shape is somewhere between a gourd, a paisley, a comma, and a question mark. What is this shape all about? That’s one question.

Some of these gourds have been in the garden for more than a year after I made them, and they show no signs of fatigue. They’re 3D printed with PETG plastic, which withstands the UV rays of the sun. The electronics are water-resistant, so the rain and the dew only give the gourd tears of happiness. The low-power LEDs within the gourd have allowed the gourd to travel with us around the world. Where is the Night Gourd now? That’s another question.

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“The Dragon Egg” Light Sculpture

J-Walt — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 02:06:39 +0000

Which came first? The chicken or the egg?

In this case, the bean came first. I modeled a sphere and extended it into a gentle curve. Then I created the lattice pattern which is like a honeycomb, or the pattern on a strawberry. It became a hybrid creation: a bit of flora, a bit of fauna. The egg of a hybrid creature. The upper part, the egg shape, is striking by itself, and I’d like to explore that shape a bit further for garden sculptures. But coupled with the base, the shape works as an indoor lamp. I extended the metaphors of strawberry and egg, designing the base to have leaves around the “fruit”, and to stand on gnarled chicken toes.

I called it a “Griffin Egg”, but some called it a “Dragon’s Egg”…

They might be right! It’s a form that I allowed to evolve intuitively, and I’m still learning about what it means to people. What do you think? I’m excited about the mixture of these plant and animal forms. I look forward to exploring more hybrid ideas like this!

The Dragon Egg is now available to purchase on Etsy!

(Click Here to see the Etsy Product.)

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