American artist James Yamada will create a dramatic installation entitled The summer shelter retreats darkly among the trees, the first artwork in Parasolstice – Winter Light; a series of outdoor projects at Parasol Unit. During the darkest months of the year, visitors will be encouraged to enjoy the health benefits of exposure to bright light by sitting inside the sculpture.
The aluminium structure of the installation shelters visitors from bad weather. Integrated into its roof are light elements at 10,000 lux, the light intensity commonly used in light therapy to treat the symptoms of SAD (seasonal affective disorder).
James Yamada, born 1967 in North Carolina, USA, now lives and works in New York. His recent solo exhibitions include Unless I dream of one tonight, Raucci/Santamaria Gallery, Naples, Italy, 2010; Our Starry Night, Tramway, The Hidden Garden, Glasgow, UK, 2009; and Our Starry Night, The Public Art Fund, New York, USA, 2008. Group exhibitions include: Linguaggi e sperimentazioni. Giovani artisti in una collezione contemporanea, MART Museum, Rovereto, Italy, 2010; Idiot Joy Showland, CAC – Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, USA, 2008; Out of art, Centre PasquArt, Biel, Switzerland, 2007; and Greater New York, P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, Long Island, USA, 2005.
