Radiolarian
TBD
Radiolarian is an inflatable mobile replica of a microscopic ocean creature, sitting on an electric wheelchair base. Radiolarian is made of over 1,800 pieces of laser cut ripstop fabric and 573 LEDs. The fabric pattern for Radiolarian was designed in Clo3D, where a 3D model of the creature was imported, thousands of seams were drawn onto the object, flattened, and exported as a PDF before being sent to a large laser cutter. Roughly 2,000 separate fabric pieces were sewn together to create the intricate shape. The structure is inflated with a blower used for inflatable lawn decorations, and has 573 LEDs inside driven by a Pixelblaze controller. The inflatable structure sits atop an electric wheelchair base, which is controlled by a former BattleBots robot controller (Rosie the RIveter) which originally came from a bomb squad robot. The wheelchair is remotely controlled with an RC car controller. The wheelchair base, which came from a FIRST Robotics club, was stripped down, has solid rubber wheels, and is powered with a 12 V LiFePO4 battery.
About the Artist
Becca Priddy is a self-taught artist and maker who transforms light, space, and materials into experiences that spark curiosity and delight. Her immersive and interactive installations blend hand-built craftsmanship and LEDs, inviting audiences to step into moments of wonder, play, and connection. A two-time Editor’s Choice award winner at Maker Faire, her work has illuminated the Portland Winter Light Festival, SOAK, and Burning Man, turning ordinary spaces into extraordinary experiences.
Rooted in a background in education, Becca approaches each project with a collaborative and inclusive spirit. She believes that art has the power to connect communities, ignite imagination, and inspire people to see the world, and themselves, in new, unexpected ways.