Michael Coffey

Michael Coffey was deeply influenced by the flow of water, and in particular, its effect on riverbeds over epochal time. Vortex — his last completed work — is one of the finest examples of this deep interest. A hand-carved, sculptural coffee table illuminated from within, its three planes swirl toward the central cavity, disappearing into the table's interior, as water would into a hole. 

The artist had longed for years to include an theatrical light element in his furniture, and he enjoyed the process of incorporating colorful LED technology into this table.  Freeing the work from the tether of an electrical cord was important to him, and so he chose a rechargeable battery pack, hidden from view, as the power source for the light show within the well.