Rainbow Forest

In PLAT 7.0, Andrew Kovacs spolke with Jack Murphy on his process of collection, curation, and his affinity for speculative architectural spaces, with a focus on his piece for the 2017 Chicago Architectural Biennial. Here he presents a new work in this lineage.

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Rainbow Forest is a public and permanent interactive work that is sited in Athens, Georgia. Consisting of a grid of 36 slender and brightly colored columns, each “tree” of Rainbow Forest is constructed out of a standard smooth finish 8” x 8” x 8” concrete masonry unit that is stacked 12’ tall. Rainbow Forest is generated by the ubiquitous building method of concrete block construction and each face of each column is a different color. Arranged in a grid they create a space to wander through, lounge, have a picnic as well as frame views of the Oconee Rivers Greenway. Painted a range of bright colors, Rainbow Forest also provides a backdrop for images that compliments the natural surroundings. The use of everyday building materials and techniques not only creates a work that can last with minimal maintenance in the weather conditions of Athens, Georgia but also celebrates the role that architecture and art can have in reimagining the everyday life of people in the public sphere.