Tecotosh

TECOTOSH

Ed Carpenter

About the artwork

Ed Carpenter
TECOTOSH, 2005
Dimensions(h x w x d): 40' x 130' x 40'
Aluminum truss, laminated dichroic glass incorporated into truss web members, steel cables and hardware, aluminum plate, stainless steel cables and hardware, lights
Located on the plaza outside Engineering Building, at SW 4th Avenue and College Street

This linear, metal sculpture spans the plaza area in front of the Portland State Engineering Building with a curved form that depends on triangular geometry for support. The form is grounded by seven linearly defined triangular shapes that also house lighting that illuminates the sculpture at night. 

Artist statement: “This sculpture is a graphic illustration of the combination of four basic engineering principles: tension, compression, torsion, and sheer. Its title, TECOTOSH, is composed of the first two letters of each of those terms, and its structure is intentionally provocative from an engineering standpoint. The sculpture's structure has been conceived and developed in collaboration with structural engineer Grant Davis, and civil/structural engineer Bob Grummel.”

About the artist

Born in Los Angeles, artist Ed Carpenter works internationally from his Portland studio, specializing in large-scale public installations.

Find more information about TECOTOSH on Ed Carpenter's website.


This work was acquired through Oregon's Percent for Art in Public Places Program, managed by the Oregon Arts Commission.

Banner image: Photo by Josh Gates.