Tricentennial Clock

“Tricentennial Clock” is a kinetic sculpture, complete with moving gears, a swinging pendulum and weights. The clock juxtaposed with the historic Roastzsch-Griesenbeck-Arciniega house that protects it, highlights the passage of time into the future, while also looking back at a portion of the past 300 years. In an age of smart phones and instant global connectivity, we are reminded by this piece that large public clocks were instrumental in synchronizing the activities of society and making everyone more productive. The artwork takes its form from the pendulum clock, invented by Christiaan Huygens in 1656. The clock was the most precise time keeper until the 1930’s and was widely used in the fast-pace lifestyle that supported the Industrial Revolution. Emerging as the principal time standard for scheduling work shifts, public transportation and daily life, the clock became a literal sign of the time. “Tricentennial Clock” is part of the city of San Antonio’s Tricenntenial, a commemoration of the city’s 300th anniversary celebrating the past and current achievements.