The structure of the alpha helix was discovered in 1951 by Portland-born scientist Linus Pauling, the only person ever to be awarded two unshared Nobel Prizes (Chemistry 1954 and Peace 1962). I was commissioned to create a sculpture in front of his boyhood home (now the Linus Pauling Center for Science, Peace, and Health in Portland, Ore.) to honor his memory. The piece was made from a single 20-foot steel beam, cut into 15 pieces, and rearranged into a 10-foot vertical spiral visually balancing on one corner. In order to emphasize the tension between the natural tree and man’s image of nature’s building block, I chose to powder coat the piece in primary red, complementary in color to the green foliage embracing it. The creation and installation of this sculpture was covered on Oregon Public Broadcasting Television’s art series "Oregon Art Beat".

For more photos of the "Alpha Helix for Linus Pauling" click here