Reflections Between Roots and Stars
Ben Smith
Madison, WI
Visual Artist & Past GLEAM Contributor: Jen Fuller
Voiceover Artist: Paul Compton
Pro Tip
Linger a while—this installation unfolds slowly, inviting quiet reflection. The longer you stay, the more patterns, whispers, and meanings will reveal themselves—just as Desiderata encourages us to find peace in stillness and clarity in contemplation.

Inside the Installation
Materials: Lighting fixtures, metallic spheres, and water pumps to encourage movement of the spheres
Poetry in Motion: The installation features a meditative voiceover of Max Ehrmann’s Desiderata, inviting guests to reflect on peace, presence, and purpose as the words gently unfold within the garden’s natural ambiance.
Nature-Inspired Light Forms: The projection patterns are inspired by organic structures—roots, branches, constellations—mirroring the connection between earth and sky, grounding and aspiration.
Immersive Audio Design: Custom-designed ambient soundscapes echo natural elements like wind, water, and whispering voices, enveloping visitors in a fully immersive sensory environment.
- Collaborative Vision: The installation was shaped through collaboration with past GLEAM artist Jen Fuller and features the voice of Paul Compton, whose narration brings emotional depth to the experience.
Site-Specific Experience: Designed specifically for Olbrich Gardens’ Sunken Garden, the installation responds to the site’s unique topography and plant life, allowing the projected light to ripple across leaves, stone, and water in real time.
Artist Bio
Ben Smith
Ben Smith is a lighting designer and video projection artist based in Madison, Wisconsin. With a background in audio, video, and lighting technology spanning nearly three decades, his work blends technical mastery with poetic visual storytelling. Ben’s artistic journey has taken him from large-scale productions like the 2010 Winter Olympic Ceremonies to immersive public art installations and theatrical performances around the world. Whether transforming natural landscapes or stage environments, his installations invite reflection, wonder, and connection through carefully choreographed movement, sound, and light. Now working in higher education, Ben continues to create environments that inspire curiosity and foster community through art and design.
