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The Barn Art series, a local initiative in Port Austin, Michigan, seeks to salvage heritage barns by turning them into sculptural installations. For her installment, called Secret Sky, architect Catie Newell of Alibi Studio reimagined a decommissioned barn by cutting a chunk out of it. The triangular wedge — like a tear in the fabric of reality itself — forms a kind of pathway through which visitors can walk. At dusk, the barn is illuminated from the inside; light pours through the spaces between the wooden slats on the walls, transforming the structure into the world’s most rustic lantern.
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Team Catie Newell with Maksim Drapey, Julia Jeffs, Oliver Popadich, Kelly Gregory and Ryan Craney (Alibi Studio); James Boyle, Chris Boyle, Brandt Rousseaux, Cindy Patrick and Carl Osentoski (Greater Port Austin Art and Placemaking); Charlie O’Geen (Etc Construction Services); John Gruber (Sheppard Engineering); Pete Maley (bricklayer); Terry Boyle (volunteer lead) with Mike Chin, David Gilbert, James Schmalenberg, Tom Schmalenberg, Don Jones, Carol Breitmeyer, Chip Newell, Esther Yang, Scott Hocking and Jon Rees (volunteers); Phil Cooley and Paul Arnet (construction support)
The Barn Art series, a local initiative in Port Austin, Michigan, seeks to salvage heritage barns by turning them into sculptural installations.