Glass ceilings refer to the unseen barriers that hinder minorities, people of color, and women from advancing within their organizations due to discrimination. Conversely, the support systems in place for these groups—though equally invisible—are often fragile, and prone to collapse.
The Glass Scaffold installation at the Albuquerque Museum is a testament to this concept, crafted from around 500 glass rods salvaged from the Solyndra debacle, highlighting how even seemingly robust organizations can falter. Custom-designed #3DPrinted components hold the structure together.
It’s possible that even the proverbial glass houses, despite being warned against casting stones, rely on glass scaffolds for their construction, maintenance, and repair. Perhaps, despite their fragility, glass scaffolds are instruments to shatter the glass ceilings they serve to construct.
Project Date: 2023
Design: Ronald Rael
Project Team: Ronald Rael, Elliot Surber