The Big Question

Mags Harries


 born Wales, 1945

Information
Art Type
Media / Materials
Collection
Year Completed
2007
Credit
Science Center of Iowa
Location
Latitude & Longitude
41.582679, -93.619689
Location Description
East plaza of the Science Center of Iowa, along SW 3rd Street at West Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy

The Big Question

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The plaza of the Science Center of Iowa serves as a gathering place, a play area, and a science exhibit. The Big Question project transformed the area into an environment that brings to the outside of the building a sense of wonder and inquiry that visitors experience inside the Science Center.

The Big Question plays with scale, encompassing infinitesimally small atoms to colossal planets. Using an acid staining technique, the planets of the solar system and lines marking their orbits are depicted on the plaza.  The dot of the question mark is also an atom with granite seats as the orbiting electrons.

 

Detail of the Atom Seating Area: The dot of the question mark is also an atom with granite seats as the orbiting electrons.
Detail of the Atom Seating Area: The dot of the question mark is also an atom with granite seats as the orbiting electrons.

 

Artists Mags Harries and Lajos Heder of Cambridge, MA sandblasted scientific imagery and questions into the surface of the surrounding concrete plaza. Alongside the planets, questions inscribed into the concrete seem to spill out of the question mark. Without direct answers the questions are thought-provoking, but still light-hearted to draw out a sense of wonder and curiosity in both children and adults.

 

Detail of Saturn pattern set into plaza
Detail of Saturn pattern set into plaza

 

The main element is an earth berm in the shape of a question mark to be used as an amphitheater for gatherings and events.

 

Aerial view of the earthwork amphitheater being used by students
Aerial view of the earthwork amphitheater being used by students