Work samples

  • Populist Hurricane
    Populist Hurricane
  • Carnival Interior
    Carnival Interior
  • Bombers
    Bombers
  • The Motel Plaza
    "The Motel" Plaza

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About Scott

Baltimore City   Baltimore City Station North AE District  

Scott Pennington is a Baltimore-based artist specializing in large-scale participatory installation and sculptural assemblage works. Drawing upon his background as a furniture and cabinet-maker, Pennington utilizes woodworking and construction techniques to create colorful, detailed works of art that engage varied audiences and invigorate public spaces. Pennington’s work suggests a tangible, yet illusory reality that examines labor, consumer culture, the pursuit of simple pleasures, and the… more

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The Blinkatorium

The Blinkatorium is a series of free standing sculptures inhabiting a 5,000 square foot parking garage, and evokes the aesthetic of a traveling carnival. All pieces are constructed using colorful LED and incandescent lighting, along with vibrant stripes and graphic patterns, a cornerstone of Pennington’s body of work.

The Blinkatorium was first presented at the return of Baltimore’s Artscape festival in 2023, after a three year postponement due to the pandemic. It was welcomed back the following year for Artscape’s 40th Anniversary with new pieces and experiences added to the collection.

Featured was an updated rendition of “The Spider” (originally constructed in 2016 and reworked for this project), a pair of lit circular disks flanked by large chevrons on easels titled, “The Gates”(2023), and Pennington’s latest 2024 oversized installation titled, “The Billboard”. Pennington also launched a new, interactive piece created in conjunction with Side A Photography, in which participants danced in the center of a ring of blinking light columns, and received a 20 second, rotating video of their performance.

The Blinkatorium is an illuminated, immersive experience that seeks to create a reflective and meditative space, where viewers can wander through moments of candor, nostalgia and play. The versatile series of structures and engagements can be customized and modified to fit a variety of different spaces, environments or creative experiences.

  • The Blinkatorium, Scott Pennington

    The Blinkatorium is a series of free standing sculptures inhabiting a 5,000 square foot parking garage, and evokes the aesthetic of a traveling carnival. All pieces are constructed using colorful LED and incandescent lighting, along with vibrant stripes and graphic patterns, a cornerstone of Pennington’s body of work.

    The Blinkatorium was first presented at the return of Baltimore’s Artscape festival in 2023, after a three year postponement due to the pandemic. It was welcomed back the following year for Artscape’s 40th Anniversary with new pieces and experiences added to the collection.

  • The Blinkatorium 2023
    The Blinkatorium 2023

    Installation view of The Blinkatorium at Artscape 2023

  • The Blinkatorium
    The Blinkatorium

    The Blinkatorium, Entrance view 2023

  • The Blinkatorium, 2024
    The Blinkatorium, 2024

    The Blinkatorium, 2024, Installation view at Artscape 2024

  • The Billboard, 2024,
    The Billboard, 2024,

    The Billboard is a component form The Blinkatorium 2024. It is 11 feet tall and 15 feet wide.

  • The Orbiter, 2024
    The Orbiter, 2024

    The Orbiter, 2024, Interactive photographic installation 

  • The Gates, 2023
    The Gates, 2023

    The Gates, 2023, 2 sculptures designed as part of The Blinkatorium at Artscape 2023, 2024. 10 feet tall x 9 feet wide

  • The Spider
    The Spider

    The Spider, 2016. Reworked and incorporated into The Blinkatorium at Artscape 2023 and 2024

  • The Chevron
    The Chevron

    The Chevron, 2024, 8 feet wide x 5 feet tall

  • The Blinkatorium 2023
    The Blinkatorium 2023

    Guests enjoying taking their portraits at The Blinkatorium 

    •

    • The Midway

    The Midway
    2022
    14' tall x 33' long
    Plywood, Lumber, sheet metal. acrylic sheeting, incandescent lighting, LED lighting, latex paint, micro-controllers, electronic relays

    A free standing light based installation originally exhibited at the Ladew Gardens "Garden Glow" light festival in Monkton, Maryland. The piece takes a series of differing components sifted from the variation of overlapping visual experiences found on a carnival midway and binds them together as a single landscape while democratically allowing each unit to individually compete for the viewers attention and it's turn to bask them in a warm blanket of electric joy.

    • The Midway
      The Midway
      The Midway, installed on the grounds of Ladew Gardens at dusk
    • The Midway, 2022, Scott Pennington
    • 102222_SCOTT_PENNINGTON_1287 copy.jpg
      102222_SCOTT_PENNINGTON_1287 copy.jpg
      The Midway at night
    • 102222_SCOTT_PENNINGTON_1269 copy.jpg
      102222_SCOTT_PENNINGTON_1269 copy.jpg
      The Midway at night
    • 102222_SCOTT_PENNINGTON_1126 copy.jpg
      102222_SCOTT_PENNINGTON_1126 copy.jpg
      Detail "The Hexagon"
    • 102222_SCOTT_PENNINGTON_1137 copy.jpg
      102222_SCOTT_PENNINGTON_1137 copy.jpg
      Detail "The Pointer"
    • 102222_SCOTT_PENNINGTON_1141 copy.jpg
      102222_SCOTT_PENNINGTON_1141 copy.jpg
      Detail "The Disc"
    • The Midway (detail) 2022 Scott Pennington
      Night time video detail of The Midway.
    •

    • Populist Hurricane

    2023, Plywood, latex paint, lumber,

     

    A triptych of billboard like structures in the median of a main thoroughfare in Baltimore City. The largest panel measures 14 feet wide x 10 feet tall. The smaller two are 8 feet tall x 10 feet wide. A stream of conscious composition inspired by roadside signage and the over saturation we are exposed to on a daily basis in modern life.

    • Populist Hurricane
      Populist Hurricane
    • Populist Hurricane panel 2
      Populist Hurricane panel 2
    • Populist Hurricane panel 3
      Populist Hurricane panel 3
    •

    • Integrated Carnival Energy Systems / The Serpent

    Integrated Carnival Energy Systems / The Serpent
    2017
    Plywood, Sheet metal, Plexi-glass, LEDs, Incandescent light bulbs, Glitter, Micro-controller
     

    A solo show at Penn State University in the fall of 2017.

    • Installation view, Integrated ICES / The Serpent
      Installation view, Integrated ICES / The Serpent
    • Detail, Integrated ICES / The Serpent
      Detail, Integrated ICES / The Serpent
    • Scott Pennington, ICES
    • Installation view, Integrated ICES / The Serpent
      Installation view, Integrated ICES / The Serpent
    • Detail, Integrated ICES / The Serpent
      Detail, Integrated ICES / The Serpent
    • Diamonds
      Diamonds
      A part of the installtion "Integrated Carnival Energy Systems" as seen from outside of the Gallery windows.
    • Installtion view, Diamonds
      Installtion view, Diamonds
      A part of the installtion "Integrated Carnival Energy Systems" as seen from outside of the Gallery windows.
    •

    • Duck Pond III

    Duck Pond III 
    2017
    9' diameter
    Plywood, Sheet metal, Plexi-glass, LEDs, Incandescent light bulbs, Glitter, Micro-controller

    • Duck Pond III
      Duck Pond III
    • Duck Pond III
      Duck Pond III
    • Duck Pond III
      Duck Pond III
    • Duck Pond III
      Duck Pond III
    • Duck Pond III, 2017, Scott Pennington
    •

    • Bombers

    Bombers
    2017
    12' x 18' x 6"
    Plywood, Sheet metal, Plexi-glass, LEDs, Micro-Controller

    As a child I was fascinated by the machines of war, by the power and seeming grace of missiles and aircraft.  These were my familiar toys writ large and potent, inspiring thoughts of adventure and heroism in my early life.  All that comes after the arc of the plane, the plummet of its cargo, was invisible to me, obscured by the sheltering media and by sheer distance from those un-exceptional un-American places where the consequences of warfare are everyday reality. 
     In some ways, little has changed with maturity.  I hear and see reports from distant lands: abstractions for an audience who does not really want to know; simplified sequences of events that are familiar in their outlines, devoid of brutal detail and confusing complication.  It occurs to me that a great many Americans are rendered childlike in our relationship to military technologies- some by our trust in the judgment of authorities who assume responsibility for their use, others by our frustrated helplessness to stop them.   In either case, our innocence of the war machines’ flesh and blood effects is preserved.  The damage done we do not understand.
    • Bombers
      Bombers
    • Scott Pennington, Bombers, Baltimore, MD 2017
    • Bombers
      Bombers
    • Bombers
      Bombers
      Gallery/Installation view
    •

    • Smaller Work

    Smaller pieces invarious shows between 2016 and 2018
    • Shield I
      "Shield I"
      "Shield I" 2018 36" x 72" x 8" plywood, sheet metal, acrylic sheeting, latex paint, glitter, LED lights, Incandescent light bulbs, micro-controller
    • Sparkle Tank
      "Sparkle Tank"
      "Sparkle Tank" 2018 36" x 72" x 22" plywood, acrylic sheeting, latex paint, glitter, LED lights, Incandescent light bulbs, micro-controller
    • Assembly I
      "Assembly I"
      "Assembly I" 2018 7' x 16" x 8" plywood, sheet metal, acrylic sheeting, latex paint, glitter, LED lights, Incandescent light bulbs, micro-controller
    • Zig-Zag 2018
      "Zig-Zag" 2018
      "Zig-Zag" 2018 36" x 72" x 5" plywood, sheet metal, latex paint, glitter, Incandescent light bulbs, micro-controller
    • Otis Street Arts Project installation view
    • "Assembly I" 2018
    • Assembly II .jpg
      "Assembly II" .jpg
      Assembly II 2018 8' x 12' x 8" Plywood, acrylic sheeting, LED lights, incandescent light bulbs, latex paint, micro-controller
    • The Orb
      "The Orb"
      The Orb 2018 50" x 56" x 6" Plywood, sheet metal, acrylic sheeting, LED lights, incandescent light bulbs, latex paint, micro-controller
    • Assembly II and Triangle Installation view
      "Assembly II" and "Triangle" Installation view
      "Assembly II" and "Triangle" Installation view
    • Triangle and The Orb Installation view
      "Triangle" and "The Orb" Installation view
      "Triangle" and "The Orb" Installation view
    •

    • Plaza

    "Plaza" is an interactive installation included in  "Light City Baltimore"2016 in Baltimore, MD made possible through funding provided by Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts. Plaza is a series of gate-like structures inspired by the architecture of carnival rides, old-school roadside signage, and the hypnotic and seductive energy of the Vegas-Style marquee. Adorned with blinking, chasing lights and colorful illuminated panels, the structures are arranged into a garden-like setting that suggests a sort of randomness, as if this temporary wonderland mysteriously appeared overnight. Plaza aims to function as a visual playground of architectural relics- one that invites viewers to stroll through and immerse themselves in colossal forms and pulsating light.
     
    • Scott Pennington, Plaza, Baltimore MD, 2016
    • The Zipper
      The Zipper
    • The Spider
      The Spider
    • The Motel
      The Motel
    • Plaza
      Plaza
      Night shot of PLAZA
    • The Fibonacci
      The Fibonacci
    • Plaza
      Plaza
      Daytime installation view. Several of Plaza's benches can be seen among the structures.
    • The Zipper
      The Zipper
      Daytime view of The Zipper
    • The Motel
      The Motel
      Daytime view of The Motel
    • The Fibonacci
      The Fibonacci
      Daytime view of The Fibonacci
    •

    • Carnival Interior

    Carnival interior is an interactive installation creating a meditative 'sanctuary' that explores social interaction within a space utilizing a carnival aesthetic. The gallery space has been modified to create an entry point that would give visitors an immediate symmetrical view of the installation. A large, upholstered banquette  is placed in each of the 4 corners that provides slightly reclined seating and keeps a viewers feet off of the floor in a manner similar to the seat of a carnival ride. A large "duck pond fountain" sits in the center of the room and contains wooden ducks that circulate around the pond. Large spinning wheels are mounted on 3 of the walls.
    • Scott Pennington, Carnival Interior, 2015
    • Carnival Interior
      Carnival Interior
    • Carnival Interior
      Carnival Interior
      Upholstered banquette detail
    • Carnival Interior
      Carnival Interior
      Wooden duck detail.
    • Carnival Interior
      Carnival Interior
      Installation shot from "Carnival Interior" 2015
    • Carnival Interior
      Carnival Interior
      Wooden ducks and carnival wheel
    • Carnival Interior
      Carnival Interior
      View of entry way from inside of the installation
    • Carnival Interior
      Carnival Interior
      Installation view from entry
    •

    • SuperGame!

    SuperGame! was conceived and designed by Scott Pennington, executed in collaboration with Adam Franchino, and involved contributions from dozens of other artists and volunteers.

    Introduced at Baltimore’s Artscape in July of 2014, SuperGame! inhabits a large colorful structure with a nostalgic carnival aesthetic. Game operators invite festival goers to interact with the installation by playing 5 classic carnival games, each with a twist based on contemporary culture. Players are rewarded for playing each of the five games with a custom-designed hand stamp.

    In the evening SuperGame! is lit by an elaborate series of programmed LED lights, designed specifically for this piece, which are integrated into the structure. Game play is accompanied by a lively sound track of new and old songs as well as sound pieces created by contributing artists.
    • Political Punk Rack
      Political Punk Rack
      A classic punk rack, also know historically known as ‘Tip the cat’ in the case of SuperGame!, the targets were politicians, celebrities, and TV personalities. Players threw bean bags printed with images of shoes, to try and topple their favorite, or least favorite president, despot, or wild card celebrity. Game design in collaboration with Melissa Webb.
    • Danger Beach Ball Roll
      Danger Beach Ball Roll
      Players manipulated a tilting play field to maneuver a ball thorough various ocean-themed obstacles and safely reach the beach! Game play is accompanied by lights and sounds reminiscent of an old school pinball machine.
    • Battleship Duck Pond
      Battleship Duck Pond
      A twelve-foot battleship houses a classic duck pond. Try your luck, pick a duck!
    • World Destruction Ring Toss
      World Destruction Ring Toss
      A classic ring toss, but in the SuperGame! version, players threw rings around objects that they wanted to save from certain environmental destruction, such as toy dinosaurs, unicorns, and a Gene Simmons doll, sparing them from catastrophic earthquakes, volcano eruptions, and tidal waves. Game design in collaboration with Alishea Galvin and Alicia Puglionesi.
    • Black Hole Corn Hole
      Black Hole Corn Hole
      Players threw bean bags printed with satellites into a small hole on a spinning disc. A direct hit popped a balloon, stopping alien invaders from emerging through the black hole and conquering the earth… Game design by Adam Franchino.
    • SuperGame!
      SuperGame!
      Overall view, opposite angle
    • SuperGame!
      SuperGame!
      Nighttime view
    • SuperGame!
      SuperGame!
      View from above, atop the ferris wheel... Photo by Katherine Crosby
    • SuperGame!
      SuperGame!
      Overall view
    •