KING SCHOOL PARK

4906 NE 6th Ave (Portland, OR)

September 7, 2024

LAUNDRY OPEN CUP

65 white Dupont Tyvek© squares, measuring 2 x 2 feet each, were adhered to the each side of the court wall to create a double-sided backdrop for this one-day event. In collaboration with Street Soccer PDX, the inaugural Laundry Open Cup was a round-robin style tournament and culmination of the Summer 2024 LNDRY Street Circuit. Six teams from around the Pacific Northwest showed up and showed out.

Dupont Tyvek ®, wheatpaste

37 x 11 feet (each)

A dynamic fusion of sport, art, and architectural design, this large-scale installation uses Tyvek, a lightweight and highly durable material known for its resistance to weather and wear, to create an expansive checkerboard pattern that interacts with the natural elements of the outdoor space. Drawing inspiration from the energy of soccer and the spatial tension of the checkerboard design, the installation serves as both a visual spectacle and a functional intervention.

Positioned at the heart of the tournament, the installation acts as a gathering point, a backdrop, and a symbolic marker for the event. It offers a unique spatial experience, encouraging interaction, contemplation, and celebration of both the art of soccer and the art of design. As the games unfold, the checkerboard grid becomes a metaphor for the field of play, reinforcing the themes of teamwork, discipline, and creativity that are central to the sport.

The design references both the precision and strategy inherent in soccer and the grid of urban spaces where many players and spectators live, highlighting the connections between the sport, the environment, and the communities it brings together.