Wishing Well was designed by renowned artist team Living Lenses (Louise Bertelsen and Po Shu Wang) of San Francisco. It is made of stainless steel and weighs 2200 kilograms. It measures 3.88 metres tall, 5.36 metres wide and 4 metres deep.
Since its unveiling, the art piece has been a hive of activity and helped to create a popular meeting spot in the community. Visitors not only admire its beauty, but also marvel at its interactive nature. Participants can text a greeting or a wish to the sculpture (587-327-9939) then step inside to experience their message translated into a symphony of light and sound.
Artist Statement:
This is a community wishing well where your words become music to our ears and colours to our eyes. You are both the composer and the audience of this ongoing symphony of light and sound.
Text a message, a greeting or a wish to 1-587-327-9939.
Your words will be processed into braille text dots which are then sent to a virtual music box. This music box contains the recorded voices of your fellow neighbours and it will interpret your words into melody – singing your message back to you. Your message will also be translated into a colour pattern of lights.
If no one is texting, the sculpture will present this message through light and sound.
Even the most meaningless of words dropped in this bottomless wishing well, are endlessly descending through a sensible universe. Sooner or later, they will resonate with a particular consciousness, recognizing the momentary self of desire, wishes, and dreams. This is music to our ears, ringing contentment in our hearts and minds. Each note acquires meaning from the last and the next to eternity. It is our song of strength and inspiration, and all without singing.