Sonic Bloom: Seattle's Singing Solar Flowers

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].