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America Varietal by Jason Salavon
Photo CreditJason Salavon
America Varietal
Photo CreditJason Salavon

America Varietal

Artist
Year2009
Classification sculpture
Medium data mural: painted structural steel, print encapsulated in resin, flourescent lighting real-time interactive system: artist designed software, computer, painted structral steel and multi-touch screen
Dimensionsdata mural: 126 x 60 x 486 in. (320 x 152.4 x 1234.4 cm)
real-time interactive system: 44 1/4 x 53 3/4 x 30 1/2 in. (112.4 x 136.5 x 77.5 cm)
Credits Commissioned through the Art in Architecture Program
Fine Arts Collection
U.S. General Services Administration
Location

  • American Varietal (U.S. Population, by County, 1790 – 2000) is an illuminated mural derived from more than two centuries of census data.  Salavon created a three-dimensional digital model to represent the population growth of all 3,171 counties in the United States.  Each veil of color maps a specific county, with its color derived from the corresponding state flag, and its shape depicting population growth over time.  The resulting artwork transforms a snapshot of statistical data into a dynamic visual experience.


    American Varietal (Atlas) is a computer program that Salavon designed to allow for a deeper exploration of his digital model of census data.  The touch-sensitive screen features interactive animations of the model, which will evolve over time as new census data is added every ten years.