Fish Sculpture Reimagined
Since its original installation in 1998, the “Dream with the Fishes” sculpture along Milwaukee’s Riverwalk had become an iconic part of the river scene. But after fifteen years much of its neon had broken, and the remaining neon was turned off.
In 2015 the Milwaukee Riverwalk District brought in CLD-E to re-imagine the popular attraction and bring back its prominence on the river. A new lighting design was developed using LED striplight fixtures and programmable wireless controls. Under CLD-E’s direction, a team of contractors was assembled to take down the aluminum sculptures and remove old neon, install new lighting and controls, and restore the sculptures brilliance.
Now instead of a static color, each fish silhouette, interior and bubbles are separately programmed with a variety of colors. The fish and bubbles provide a new visual dynamic and colorful variations that enhance the kinetic composition. The bubbles and waves are programmed to sequence and flow naturally. The tempo and variety of the animations change over time, plus seasonal routines or color palettes are installed for special events and holidays.
The new LED technology provides extended longevity with very low energy consumption. The rejuvenated sculpture has become a new major attraction to the river walk.
Fish Sculpture Reimagined from Marty Peck on Vimeo.