Carrboro: Out of this "Whirld"
Once gleaming, its copper portal has started to oxidize and its silver peak has faded. But at 12 feet tall, weighing in at about 500 pounds, it stands anchored on a Weaver Street corner lawn. The padlock on the handle adds to its allure. Those with a xenoarchaeological bent might do a double-take. But despite its cylindrical shape and looming size, this is no spacecraft or playground as young'uns might eagerly yearn. This interactive art installation is a metal spinning camera obscura -- one of photography's ancestors. Created by Josh Lev in 2011, "new Whirld" is intended to illustrate a person's environment from unexplored views, encouraging people to adopt new perspectives.
Folks enter the flue-shaped piece, close the door and behold a duplicate image of the outside world displayed on the inside wall of the steel structure. This occurs when sunlight enters the lens projecting a mirrored image inside the unlit room. Though reversed and upside down, the lens captures a clear image through the small hole, in both original proportion and hues. To heighten its effect, the interactive piece spins enabling folks to experience a 360-degree panoramic view of its surroundings.
Although unopened for hands-on use, it's on display in Carrboro. Detailed "how to use" instructions in a framed sign accompany the art installation.
(photographs taken on the corner of Weaver and Center streets in Carrboro)