Ursula von Rydingsvard, the artist whose creations are homages to the rhythms of nature and their emotional dimension, has constructed a sculpture for the Microsoft corporate campus that, in her own words, "seems a natural response to the surroundings, and was the right thing to do." The effective integration of the monumental piece "Skip To My Lou" into its designated space is consistent with von Rydingsvard's practice of determining the design that simultaneously accommodates and challenges the parameters of its environment. Her characteristic technique of composing a complex interlocking of hundreds of carved cedar boards achieves an overall geometric cohesion in the work, creating an effective organic counterpoint to its non-symmetrical form. Yet, there is a unique strength to this sculpture derived from what the artist recognized as a "kind of energy that was idiosyncratic to itself." Whether children are beckoned to play hide-and-seek in its alcoves, whether it is a site for spontaneous brainstorming sessions, or whether it conjures up explorations of rock outcroppings in secluded mountain canyons, von Rydingsvard's artwork is an opportunity for the Microsoft community to participate in an imaginative and original connection to nature.

You are invited to experience "Skip To My Lou" and artist Ursula von Rydingsvard's insights in this on-line exhibit.