‘Noctilucent’ provokes thoughts of transformation at the Contemporary Arts Center

By Mark Adams

Friday, May 4, 2012 | 4:05 p.m.

To some, a pile of white office paper is just a pile of white office paper. To others, it’ll soon be the next great American novel. And for Mark Rumsey, it’s an opportunity to provoke thoughts of transformation.

Using only 5,000 pieces of the run-of-the-mill material and other office staples, the Michigan-based artist seeks to highlight change with his Noctilucent installation at the Contemporary Arts Center. “It can be made, with a couple of simple movements, into these three-dimensional volumes that create a much bigger piece,” Rumsey explains.

The installation includes three 3D figures, each with a halogen light underneath to illuminate its structure. Rumsey collaborated with local volunteers to further illustrate the idea of transformation—with more hands, a grander objective can be achieved. He said the end result should resemble “a walk through the clouds,” and that much like his other work, Noctilucent is guided by visual phenomena. “It’s about layers and shadows and detail, so as you move around it the piece changes.”