Title

In the Flat Field We

Narrative

This piece is currently under construction and was designed specfically for an upcoming (summer 2027) exhibition at the Dairy Arts Center in Boulder, Colorado.

Description of the Proposed Structure

The sculpture is an abstracted representation of an earthen plot of wild, overgrown plants which are part of the scenery next to the trail when I ride my bike in Boulder County. The wild plot is healthy and thriving because it is a natural polyculture, better able to resist disease, extreme weather, and predation because of its diversity. Each plant bends and sways, dancing in its own way to the tune played on the Colorado wind. The story of the seasons and community are told through the colors and placement of the plants, each view of the sculpture tells a part; the eldest plants live near the center, new life radiates outward; neighbors grow together and form alliances; young, green shoots find their own rhythm together; the community keeps its treasures, mysterious to the outsider, close to its heart.

 

The proposed sculpture will be built using 100 3/4" steel rods arranged in a horizontal 10 x 10 grid measuring five square feet and secured with hardware to a concrete base with a translucent resin toroid placed in the center. The rods vary in length, the longest are seven feet, while the majority are around five feet or just tall enough that an adult of average height should be able to see the tops of most of the rods. The base will be heavy enough to support the rods so long as it is buried below grade at a depth of approximately 12 inches. 

 

Each rod will be individually bent to radius by the artist and painted to match the design shown using a high quality, durable paint. The ends of the rods will be cut as shown in the design, perpendicular to the rod length. If there are safety concerns, the design can be adapted to add a hemispherical cap to the end of each rod. The total weight of the piece will be approximately 200 pounds and can be assembled/installed by a small crew on the day. A small crane would be helpful if available.

*final diameter, material choice, install depth, and anchoring may be adjusted due to price/availability of materials, etc.

Medium

powder coated steel rods

steel hardware

concrete

resin

Dimensions

Height: 7 feet

Width: 67 inches

Depth: 70 inches

Weight guesstimate: 200 pounds

rods ~75 pounds (1.5 lb per 12' rod)

hardware: 25 pounds

base: 100 pounds

Colors Used

Dead

Pansy (or Lavender?)

Sprouts

Fall

Willow

Sage

Green

Russet

Angel

Medium painted steel rods and hardware, concrete, resin Alternative Text (125 char limit) An in situ render of a proposed placement (front faces west) of a design for an outdoor sculpture, each rod is colored as a native plant and bent as if windblown. Example placement of a design for an outdoor sculpture, each rod is colored as a native plant and bent as if windblown.

A rendered view of the final version of the piece, situated in an environment similar to the client's location.

A quad view from CAD desktop environment of the final version of the piece. 

A frontal view of an in-situ render showing what the piece might look like as dusk approaches.