This project is called the ‘Funion’ and was started as an experiment in wind driven kinetic sculptural design and the effort to make it light weight enough that it would spin in wind. It worked quite well, and will most likely lead to larger pieces in the future.

Its strength relies on the interlocking shape of the two-ply veneer walls for its strength, making the final wall thickness 1 mm, short of 1/16” strong enough to hold the shape.

We made it an interactive piece, but it did require supervision at the event. The lines attaching the leaf collar to the crown, could be easily pulled and made fast to a cleat on the bottom, and the whole shape is mounted onto a lazy susan, and would begin spinning in 10 MPH wind. Pretty cool stuff, and a enjoyable project to work on. Many people said the experience being inside while it is closing, is interesting, sort of being in a Venus flytrap, or 16-pedaled flower that opens and spins.