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“Let’s Meet at the Tower of Bauble” with Science World Donor Derek Lee

Our Why We Give series spotlights our supporters and why they give to our non-profit organization. 


“At 12:57 pm, a family of six stopped in front of the Tower of Bauble. In six minutes, they moved around the exhibit, admiring its complexity, pointing at features and explaining how its systems work. At 1:02, as the balls came crashing through different bells and chimes of the machine, five adults and teens joined. They observed and tracked the various trajectories, saying ‘so cool,’ with strong emotional responses. They spent four minutes and fifty seconds at the exhibit.” 

-“Learning in Public Spaces,” Luc Bagnérès

In this excerpt from Bagnérès' 2021 graduate thesis, the urban designer observes a day of activity around the twenty-four-foot-tall kinetic sculpture that stands outside the entrance to Science World.   

Designed by the late New York artist George Rhoads, the Tower of Bauble—so named for the twenty-four balls that travel seemingly at random along its winding paths—makes whimsical music of chimes and bells that delights both Science World visitors and passers-by. 

In fact, Bagnérès found that the Tower of Bauble is more often accessed by members of the public than ticket holders.  

Which was exactly the point of its location. 

As a non-profit charitable organization, Science World has a mission to engage the public with exploration and enjoyment of science in everyday life.  

Many of our donors support our free programs, while others, like Derek Lee and his partners, provide funds to refurbish our exhibits.  

This recent gift of $75,000, made by the Lee family, the Macdonald family, the Poole family, and the partners of Northills Shopping Center Kamloops, will allow us to tune-up the Tower and reinstall it next spring.  

“Every person I talk to about the Tower of Bauble says how much they love it,” says Derek. “It’s the perfect feature that announces the wonder and fun of Science World but is available for everyone.”

“Machines That People Can Love” 

The history of the Tower of Bauble is as winding as its own intricate workings. 

Before he died last year, American artist George Rhoads produced over 300 kinetic sculptures.  

He thought of them as “machines that people can love...self-contained machines that don’t pollute — beautiful machines that redeem what we’ve done to our land.” 

In 1985, shopping-centre magnate David Bermant bought a dozen of Rhoads’ machines and shipped them to his various malls across North America. 

The Tower of Bauble landed in Kamloops, BC in Northills Shopping Centre in the middle of its food court. There, Derek says, it was meant to attract customers and entertain diners.  

“But the restaurant workers quickly put an end to that,” Derek laughs. “I guess after eight hours a day, the continuous music can be a bit much.” 

The Tower went into storage, where it remained until Derek and his partner acquired the property in 1995 and found the work of art covered in dust.  

“We thought there’d be no better place for the Tower of Bauble than Science World,” says Derek. “So, we set out to try and donate it. And it’s been there ever since.” 

A Towering Tune-up 

“The Tower of Bauble is almost like a lighthouse,” says Nastaran Moradinejad, Principal at PFS Studio, a Canadian urban design and landscape architecture firm. “While you’re lining up at Science World, or waiting for somebody...‘Let’s meet at the Tower of Bauble.’” 

In 2010, PFS Studio worked with Science World and the City of Vancouver to re-imagine the exterior space around the dome. The new Ken Spencer Science Park and Environmental Trail provided innovative ways to project the Science World experience out into the public sphere.  

The Tower of Bauble was relocated from the Science World entrance to closer to the sidewalks and bike paths that run the sea wall.  

It was from that vantage point last year that Derek noticed that the Tower was looking a little worse for wear.  

“I was cycling past and saw the colours had dulled,” he says. “And it's such a beautiful piece. So, when we were approached to donate the money to refurbish it, we wholeheartedly agreed that it was a good use of funds.”  

Derek’s parents Lily and the late Robert H Lee have made gifts to Science World over the years and, in 2021, were named Science World Patrons. Derek says they raised him and his siblings to be well-rounded, which included focusing on education, athletics, arts and culture, and philanthropy. 

“Giving to Science World is an endeavour,” he says. “It’s an endeavour in making the world a better place. When you show someone how to be curious and ask questions, what they learn is how to help others.” 


We're grateful for Derek Lee and partners for their help.  

Your gift helps fund the future. Donate today.  

About the sticker

Survivors

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

Egg BB

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

Comet Crisp

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

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Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

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Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

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Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

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Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

About the sticker

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Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

About the sticker

Time-Travel T-Rex

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.