“At the end of a Rainbow” is an installation piece created for my Electronic Technologies class. It features a rotating lotus made out of blank CDs that surrounds a lightbulb. The CDs then reflect the oncoming light from the bulb and create a spectrum of colors on the surface of the petals.
Inspiration
I originally had an idea of projecting abstract color shapes on a wall using stained glass and a lightbulb. I realized that the idea was not feasible due to the cost of materials and the learning curve for the materials. As a result the idea of using blank CDs to reflect light came to me since the Target on campus had a stack of blank CDs on sale. I was heavily influenced by Monet and his waterlilies which is why I settled on the idea of a lotus. When making this project my goal was to create something that was simple but would enhance people. With the graduate strike at the end of the quarter much of the future for our classes became uncertain as classes got cancelled and quizzes pushed back. It was quite a confusing time for much of the Undergraduate population so I wanted to create something that would take people’s mind away from their worries. I was hoping something as simple as a bunch of rainbows on a CD could bring some light into someone’s day much like how people always stop to point out rainbows that appear after a storm.
Process
I began by cutting blank CD’s into the shape of a flower petal and sanding them down. To ensure they were more uniform, I used a paper template and traced an outline on the CDs. Once they were cut out I attached them to a 3-D printed base my friend helped me make. This base was circular and fit around the pedestal so the lotus could then revolve around it once powered up by an Arduino. The top of the 3-D base caved inwards towards the middle in order to help achieve a structured look with the inside petals standing up more. The bottom of the 3-D printed base features a gear cog that links to another attached to a stepper motor. This allows for the stepper motor to turn the entire lotus base when powered. Once the petals were on the base and the motor was set up correctly I coded my Arduino. I used the code from this video: Link in order to make my stepper motor rotate. As it was rotating I realized that the base was too heavy and eventually became slightly lopsided which inhibited its rotation. To address this I used tiny wooden blocks and cardboard to prop up the other side and ensure the large bas was parallel to the ground so the motor could freely spin. Lastly, the Arduino was powered up by a rechargeable battery pack while the lightbulb connected to an outlet.