Carolina Sail (video) from the collection of South Carolina Arts Commission

Carolina Sail (video), 1987

video

Sky Sculpture is an art of space, movement and time and represents sculptor Howard Woody's concept of environmental art. Responding to the invisible force of nature, Sky Sculpture transforms wind, temperature and humidity into the poetry of motion. Over the past 20 years, more than 250 launches have taken place in the United State, Canada and Europe with atmospheric conditions ranging from tropical to artic. The longest flight to date (1987) traveled 285 miles in 8 hours reaching an altitude of more than 20,000 feet. Traveling approximately 7 miles, Carolina Sail was one of the shortest flights on record.

Carolina Sail Sky Sculpture was created from 1/2 mil metalized mylar filled with helium with its size at 100' x 60'. It was constructed with 5 lifting compartments, 5 wind panels and 3 anchors. Using 450 yards of mylar film, construction time was 150 hours.

Carolina Sail was launched from Brittlebank Park, Charleston, SC on May 31, 1987, as part of the Spoleto Festival. The flight covered 7 miles in 98 minutes at 1500 feet. The average speed was 2 knots. Carolina Sail landed on Daniel Island, 7 miles north of Charleston. The flight was tracked by a recorder in a Cessna airplane.

Carolina Sail was commissioned for the State Art Collection by the South Carolina Arts Commission in 1986.

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From South Carolina Arts Commission

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Carolina Sail (drawing), 1987

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