About

LANDMARKS PRESENTS

CELEBRATING "C-010106"

A NEW WORK BY SARAH OPPENHEIMER

Peyton Yates Family Bridge at the Gary L Thomas Energy Engineering Building

New York–based artist Sarah Oppenheimer creates works of art that alter the built environment and shift our frame of spatial reference. Pushing the boundaries between sculpture and architecture, Oppenheimer questions the limits of both mediums, upending our experience of inside and out, and inverting our sense of what is near and far. By reorienting the spaces we inhabit, the artist sets out to reconfigure the way we see and are seen.

With an MFA in painting from Yale University, Oppenheimer operates within the disciplines of mechanical, structural, and behavioral engineering. The artist’s relationship to these fields makes C-010106 ideally situated between two buildings at the Cockrell School of Engineering.

At opposite ends of the footbridge, a pair of diagonal reflective glass plates are sandwiched between a pair of clear glass sheets. At the intersection of the four panes, the glass passes through an incision in the bridge surface. The reflective surfaces within the incision create unexpected views, enabling pedestrians on top of the bridge to see the reflections of those underneath, and vice versa.

A bridge serves as a connector between spaces and people by making travel from one building to another more efficient and direct. By placing glass forms on the north/south and east/west axes of this bridge, Oppenheimer creates a “switch” that interrupts the normal flow of traffic and habitual ways of movement. This alteration invites us to embrace observation and encourages unexpected social interactions. As a result, C-010106 introduces new relationships between people and heightens awareness of the shifting light, sound, and seasons that surround us.

Oppenheimer names each work of art using a system that describes the relationships between the art and its surroundings. The title C-010106 begins with C as shorthand for cinema, which the artist defines as the way an image is perceived as a projection on a flat surface. The remaining numbers indicate additional characteristics such as position, sight lines, and boundaries.

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Event Details

• Date: Ongoing Exhibit
• Venue: Peyton Yates Family Bridge at the Gary L Thomas Energy Engineering Building
• Website: https://landmarks.utexas.edu/artwork/c-010106

Ticket Information

• Cost: FREE

Presenter Details

• Name: Landmarks

Works of public art have the capacity to resonate deeply, stimulate curiosity, and inspire the imagination in unexpected ways. At The University of Texas at Austin, the public art collection is one of the most distinguishing features of the main campus, shaping impressions and offering a distinctive setting for memorable experiences.

As the university’s public art program, Landmarks enriches the lives of students and visitors by presenting art that is broadly accessible and free to all. Some fifty works of modern and contemporary art are throughout the 433-acre campus and viewed by thousands of people every day.

For many, the collection provides an introductory opportunity to discover great works of art. By creating equitable pathways to meaningful engagement, Landmarks reflects the complex audiences we serve and celebrates our differences.

Visit soon to discover why Landmarks is a point of pride for the university and all people of the State of Texas.

Venue Details