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Sonic Bloom: Seattle's Singing Solar Flowers

Experience Seattle's 'Sonic Bloom': interactive, solar-powered flower sculptures blending art, science, and sound at the Seattle Center.

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Sonic Bloom is a public art installation at the Seattle Center, near the Space Needle, featuring five giant, solar-powered flower sculptures that sing and light up [2, 5]. Created by artist Dan Corson, the flowers offer a playful and interactive experience, demonstrating renewable energy in an engaging way [2, 6, 7].

A brief summary to Sonic Bloom

Local tips

  • Visit during the early morning or late afternoon for the best lighting and fewer crowds [8].
  • Bring your camera to capture the vibrant colors and unique designs of the flowers [8, 19].
  • Listen closely to the harmonic tones emitted by each flower as you walk around the installation [3, 6].
  • Combine your visit with a trip to the nearby Space Needle or other Seattle Center attractions [2, 17].
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Getting There

  • Walking

    From the Space Needle, walk towards the Pacific Science Center [2, 5, 17, 18]. Sonic Bloom is located just outside the center's gates, near the base of the Space Needle [2, 17]. There is no admission fee to view Sonic Bloom [3].

  • Public Transport

    From Westlake Center in downtown Seattle, take the Seattle Center Monorail to Seattle Center [12, 15]. From the Seattle Center Monorail station, walk towards the Space Needle and the Pacific Science Center. Sonic Bloom will be on your left [12, 15]. A one-way trip on the Monorail costs $3.50 for adults [12].

  • Driving

    If driving, several parking garages are available near the Seattle Center [9, 12, 13]. The 5th Avenue N Garage (516 Harrison Street) and the Mercer Street Garage (650 3rd Avenue N) are nearby options [12, 13]. Parking rates vary, but expect to pay around $8-$29 for a few hours [10, 11]. Check for event rates, which may be higher [9, 11]. Consider using a parking app to reserve a spot in advance [9, 10, 11].

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Discover more about Sonic Bloom

Sonic Bloom is a whimsical and interactive art installation located at the Seattle Center, near the base of the Space Needle [2, 5, 17, 18]. Created by local artist Dan Corson, the sculpture features five towering flowers inspired by the Australian firewheel tree [2]. These aren't your typical flowers; they stand up to 40 feet tall and are constructed with steel, acrylic, and fiberglass [3, 5]. During the day, the solar panels on the flower heads absorb sunlight, which powers LED lighting that illuminates the sculptures at night [2, 3, 6, 7]. As people walk by, motion sensors trigger a chorus of harmonic tones, creating a dynamic and ever-changing sonic landscape [2, 3, 6]. Each flower has its own distinctive set of notes, allowing visitors to compose and conduct music together [6]. The title 'Sonic Bloom' refers to its location on the Puget Sound and the interactive singing flowers [6, 18]. Sonic Bloom was commissioned by the Pacific Science Center with support from Seattle City Light's Green Up program, which encourages the development of renewable energy systems [6, 7]. The installation teaches visitors about solar power and demonstrates its viability in the Pacific Northwest [2]. The flowers are tilted at different angles to show the effect of time of day and orientation on energy generation [2]. Visitors can see real-time electricity generation on a kiosk inside the Pacific Science Center [2]. Sonic Bloom is located just outside the Pacific Science Center's gates, making it accessible to the public without needing to pay admission [2].

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