Van Dyck Murphy Studio Wins Ann Arbor Alleyway Project
2021-10-14 • Sharlene Lee
Van Dyck Murphy Studio—the experimental research and design practice of assistant professor Kelley Van Dyck Murphy (MArch07) and Jonathan Murphy (MArch07/MUD07)—was selected as one of four winning teams for the Alleyway Project, an international public art competition working to reclaim forgotten pedestrian spaces through immersive art installations in downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Van Dyck Murphy Studio’s project LOOMROOM is currently being redesigned for the assigned site and fabrication is already underway. Taking form as a huge spatial loom, the project is comprised of a network of cables that suspend steel frames with colorful paracord interlaced throughout to create woven basket-like forms. The “baskets” are open at the top and bottom, encouraging visitors to view the sky through these multi-colored portals while also emphasizing the verticality unique to alleyways as in-between spaces. LOOMROOM is currently slated to be installed in spring 2022.
Additional members of the Van Dyck Murphy Studio team for the project are Sheng Li (MArch22), Lindsey Compeaux (MArch22), Yuwei Yang (MArch22), and Rosie Finglass (BS23 in Mechanical Engineering).