Lili Maya (American, born 1965), James Rouvelle (American, born 1967), Maya + Rouvelle (New York, New York, USA, founded 2009); Glass, neodymium magnets, electromagnets, electronics; Courtesy of Maya + Rouvelle

See our image rights statement.

 

See more objects with the tag rain, glass, sound, vibration, magnet.

Object Timeline

  • We acquired this object.

-0001

2018

2024

  • You found it!

0501, Pulse, Drift, Ping, Echo, 2018

Inside two display cases are glass volumes in the shape of cones, domes, and droopy tubes. Tiny metal spheres roll around inside the vessels, tapping lightly against the glass. These little spheres are powerful magnets. Installed underneath the tabletop are electromagnets. The tiny spheres change direction when the electromagnets switch their polarity from north/south to south/north. Created by Lili Maya and James Rouvelle, the piece sounds delicate and irregular, like falling rain.

Lili Maya (American, born 1965), James Rouvelle (American, born 1967), Maya + Rouvelle (New York, New York, USA, founded 2009); Glass, neodymium magnets, electromagnets, electronics; Courtesy of Maya + Rouvelle
  • Touch Component: Pulse, Drift, Ping, Echo, 2018

    Glass shapes are exposed on the tabletop. Artists Lili Maya and James Rouvelle created this special touch component of their piece especially for this exhibition.

  • Glass
  • glass.
  • Gift of Seguso Verti d'Arte.
  • 1985-93-2
  • Glass
  • glass.
  • Gift of H. Wittur & Company.
  • 1985-99-6

Listen to an audio recording of this text here.

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition The Senses: Design Beyond Vision.

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

For higher resolution or commercial use contact ArtResource.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/1159162265/ |title=0501, Pulse, Drift, Ping, Echo, 2018 |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=24 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>