Baja Luna
onyx, bronze, steel & rope
11′h x 5.5′w x 14′d
1999, Magnussen Lodge, Lake Tahoe California
Baja Luna is a light sculpture conceived as a "lower moon," dwelling inside the home. Like the moon, it interacts with the transition from day to night; its internal light becomes increasingly brighter as twilight settles, giving the effect of emergence at night.
Weighing nearly a ton, it is anchored to a beam in the ceiling of its Lake Tahoe, California home by steel reinforced temple ropes. During the day, the strength of the carving and the intricate detail of the bronze are enhanced by the play of light and shadow on the sculpted surfaces. Internally lit by 950 watts of Xenon light, the translucency of the stone reveals veins and patterns laced through the carved surfaces.