"Turbulence" Project

Project Overview: Turbulence

Turbulence is a 30-day kinetic art installation running from October 20 through November 17, 2026. The project utilizes fan-generated wind to manipulate paint dispensers, creating a chronological series of 30 abstract paintings. These works visually map the political turbulence of the 2026 U.S. midterm election cycle.

Technical Setup & Operational Mechanics

The installation translates daily political data into physical wind force through a structured tracking system:

Component Specifications & Mechanics

The Apparatus: Suspended plastic bottle and tube dispensers filled with red and blue paint hang above a 16” × 26” primed white canvas.

Wind Generation: Two variable-speed box fans face each other on chairs from opposite sides of the dispensers.

Data Tracking: A daily journal records political events that affect the nation's ability to conduct  elections (e.g., policy announcements, legal changes, legislative actions).

Scoring Model: A weighted point system translates journaled events into a political turbulence score.

Turbulence Levels:

Scores are mapped across a 5-level scale:
• Levels 1–3: Achieved by adjusting fan speed settings.
• Levels 4–5: Achieved by physically moving the fans closer to the apparatus.

Daily Cycle

The fans run for a total operational window of 4 minutes per day (2 minutes per fan), with each minute representing 6 hours of real-world time.

Exhibition, Display, & Public Engagement

• Live Performance: The painting process occurs at a fixed time every evening inside a windowed storefront gallery, allowing pedestrians and visitors to watch the live creation. Social media livestreams are also planned.

• The Flag Metaphor: The primary palette of red and blue paint interacting on white canvas mirrors the American flag.

• Final Grid Arrangement: The 30 completed canvases will be displayed chronologically in a grid 5 units high by 6 units long. The final assembled grid measures approximately 7 feet high by 13 feet wide, maintaining the official 1:1.9 size ratio of the U.S. flag.

• Post-Creation Exhibition: Following the 30-day cycle, the final multi-panel painting will be exhibited alongside the physical apparatus and the daily context journal.

• Philanthropy: If the artwork is sold, all commercial profits will be donated to non-profit organizations dedicated to election-integrity initiatives.