Roundabout Public Art Proposal
Sculpture Narrative for Legacy of Leaves
The three primary leaves comprising the sculpture contain iconic graphic silhouettes displaying the unique connection everyone can form with our region’s natural environment: water activities, physical exploration and appreciating the flora and fauna.
Deanna Marsh conceived the sculptural form and created the pattern for the leaves. Laurel Mathe embellished each leaf with an array of playful, integrated graphics. Genevieve Tucker formed the completed leaves into 3-D CAD renderings and animation of the roundabout. The architectural CAD work will be used for the laser cutting fabrication process.
Legacy of Leaves outdoor sculpture is both an eye-catching statement for the Hwy. 49 roundabout and an embracing form welcoming travelers into the American River Canyon and Auburn’s historic downtown.
The sculpture’s leaves are inspired by the native Toyon plant, found throughout the canyon. The plant is a favorite resource of butterflies and other pollinators. Its berries feed birds, coyotes and bear, and even humans after cooking first! In short, it is an abundant provider and resilient evergreen plant in the canyon. As such, the plant is an enduring symbol of provision and abundance for our river canyon and town.
Conservation & Sustainability
The entire sculpture is constructed of Corten steel. Corten possess exceptional corrosion resistance and tensile strength. Corten steel is also known as a ‘weathering’ steel; as the steel forms a protective layer on its surface under the influence of the weather, and it does not need to be painted.
The steel patina deepens over time to a rich, dark brown. The qualities of this steel ensure far more than 25 years of integrity.
Each 20’ leaf will be laser cut in sections from 1/8” to 1/2” from the steel and welded together. The arcs will be formed mechanically by a press brake. Engineered flanges will be welded at the base of each leaf to accommodate expansion bolt anchorage on concrete footings. Fabrication will take about 4 weeks for each leaf.
Installation will require a crane to place the leaves over concrete footings. The rock material will be re-used by the excavation team to cover the concrete footings so the leaves appear embedded in the slope of the roundabout.
Engineering
This sculpture’s structural integrity comes from the thickness of the Corten steel, the curved shape of each leaf, and the engineered, concealed footings and expansion bolts used for attachment. Wind forces and seismic parameters will be evaluated. The footings, bolts, and steel thicknesses will be specified and certified by Randolph C. Rowland, P.E. (Civil Registration No: C25019) pending project approval. Stamped engineering drawings will be provided to the city. The disclaimer plaque will be mounted on one of the water leaf near the base.
Maintenance
Cleaning and maintenance is straight forward and minimal: a scratch free, sturdy brush can be used to eliminate unwanted dirt. Hosing down the sculp-ture is also feasible. Spray paint can be removed with Acetone and the steel will re-patina fairly quickly disguising the cleaning.
Besides easy maintenance, the weathered nature of the metal conveys an intention towards sustainable materials. As conservation is a vital issue, we felt it was important to use natural-looking materials.
