In 2015, I designed and built a 3D conceptual art piece. Consisting of found objects and hand-fabricated elements, it aims to illuminate the issue of drunk driving through an assemblage of unusual objects and unique lighting. I made a short video tour of the piece and its elements, and have posted it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7O5Y-Z48fw
Details of the bi-level assemblage: On the upper level, a glass head, illuminated by a rotating light, represents the brain at a 0.08 blood-alcohol content, broadcasting to all within its sphere of influence that it is incapable of focus.
The comically large volume of liquor represents overindulgence. The dice displaying snake eyes, frozen in solid acrylic, are a surrogate for ice cubes and represent the gamble of intoxication, and the skull is a surrogate for a martini olive and represents death from bad choices.
The miniature traffic light hanging off a bent pole represents losing control of your vehicle, causing, in this case, only property damage.
The geometric formation of Absolut bottles was chosen as much for its visual impact as it was for its meaning. As the focal point of this assemblage, the bottles serve to represent alcohol, not to indict it. The bowling-pin-like formation could be seen as the obstacle that the over-indulger must metaphorically knock down to overcome.
The Stop Sign is self-explanatory.
The upper level is supported by champagne corks.
The martini glass and bottle formation are illuminated with actual traffic stoplights mounted on the lower level. Their intense red light represents danger.
A die-cast car and Lego motorcycle are included and you can imagine that either the driver or the rider could be the impaired perpetrator, with the other being the victim. Due to their orientation on the track, they’re headed on a collision course, demonstrating that you never know what’s around the bend.
Spare parts include 4 light bulbs for the miniature traffic light and 1 rotating light bulb for the glass head.
I will donate a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of this piece to two charities committed to ending impaired motor vehicle operation: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD.org) and the National Motorcycle Safety Fund (NMSFund.com).
Due to the size, weight, and construction of this piece, I will not be able to ship it, but I will personally deliver it almost anywhere in Southern California (unless you have a shipper that handles artwork).
Absolut® is a registered trademark and was not involved the creation of this art piece, but I did make them aware of this project in November 2015.