Solar Wings+Spiral Dance

Selected as the 2014-15 SITE Artist-in-Residence, Layne submitted Solar Wings to the Central Carolina Community College and the SITE committee as the inaugural environmental public art sculpture for the proposed future environmental sculpture park located on the Pittsboro campus grounds.

The results of the community participatory development workshop and subsequent professional design charrette suggested the direction and elements for the design of the environmental sculpture.  Suggested sculptural attributes and activities included: sustainable, solar collector, interactive, earth form, meeting place, environmentally responsive, stage/performance, ecological, climbable, educational, colorful, playful, rainwater harvesting, celebratory, enclosing, landscaping, paths, iconic, cultural, accessible, pond, water feature, structural, reflective, multi-level, historical, and gateway.

Divided into five parts and reflecting nature plus culture, the Solar Wings sculptural landscape is a small meeting/performance space that fits into the short hillside adjacent to the Community Library.  The concept supports an awareness of the role water plays in the lives of both humans and animals, with the water feature including a large, spirally formed sand area that is a requirement for butterflies to drink.  The curved series of ten metal poles of the standing sculpture depicts a rising swarm of butterfly wings, often occurring when the weather gets to hot and a butterfly species must migrate to survive.

Part I: Landscape and Hardscape

• Earth Form and Amphitheater – three-tier concrete block seating walls follow existing contours and create a small amphitheater for about 50 people.
• Tree Arc and Triad – planted to enclose the space and to provide shade during mid afternoon and evening performances; short hedges behind each row of seating provide a little privacy and safety from potential falls.
• Paved Performance Area – concrete pavers set in a standard pattern reflect the nearby library building materials while providing a setting for small performance or ceremonial presentations.
• Spiral Sand and Rock Areas – besides presenting a spiritual pattern often exhibited by indigenous peoples to show their connection to the cosmos, these spiral patterned sand areas are inspired by the fact that Pittsboro is the geographical center of North Carolina.
• Connecting Pathways – using local materials, the compacted Chapel Hill gravel pathways connect the library parking area to the perimeter pathway via the three-tier amphitheater.

Part II: Rainwater Harvesting/Water Feature

• Bio-Retention and Water Filtration Area – sited at the low point of the surrounding hill and at the beginning of the existing swale, this area collects 47.37 in of rainwater annually (b/w 3.5 and 4.5 in/month); the systems of water loving plants, sand, gravel, and stones slows down the runoff during stormwater surge events.
• Rainwater Harvesting System – supported by a submersible recirculation pump, an underground tank will collect filtered rainwater from the bio-retention area for use in the water feature.
• Water Pools and Stream – created using butyl rubber and concrete block walls, two circular pools are situated at the end of a continuously recirculation rill of water, providing a continual water moving sound supporting personal meditation and a paired meeting place.

Part III: Metal Wings and Solar Lighting System

• Solar Wings – Since many insects can fly and insects count for 70% of all animal species, arthropods make up the vast majority of flying animals; the habits of butterfly can provide us with an indication of the environmental conditions in which we live, thus a greater awareness is valuable to our own wellbeing. Created by students and other community members from steel plate, each set of wings will be coated on the upper side with solar cells while the other side will be pained to depict a rainbow of colors.
• Ten Metal Poles – twenty feet in height and supported by being imbedded into the ground 6.5 feet, the metal poles arc around the rear of the performance space and support the swarm of butterfly wings.
• Supported by the multiple of solar celled wings, the illumination system consists of solar collection cells, batteries, charge controller, driver and lighting module; LED flood lights illuminate the wing forms and temporary fabric form while area lights are imbedded in the seating walls for pathway illumination.

Part IV: Fabric Form

• Temporary Fabric Sculpture – installed as required, this brightly colored fabric cornucopia form reflects the celebratory nature of the sculptural environment. Employed as a backdrop during performances and events, this temporarily installed sculptural form spotlights this inaugural sculpture installation and acts as the special attractor for the whole SITE program.

Following the principles of ecological design and employing the use of materials that are easily accessible and cost effective, the design incorporates installation methods that can be employed by non-skilled student and volunteer labor. Solar Wings + Spiral Dance was designed for public education, enjoyment and promotional purposes for the SITE program.  As a community artist who believes that public involvement is the key to community ownership of a public artwork, the proposal included a number of engagement and interactive activities for community participation and in support of future fundraising goals.  Intended to be held during the Fall term and supporting both the Sustainable Agriculture and Fine Arts programs, ten course sessions were suggested that would include both lecture and practicum parts to each 3 hour class period.  Scheduled with the input of College faculty, the sessions would include: an introduction and history of environmental sculpture, landscape and hardscape design, water and its usage, metal pattern making and finishing, volumes and fabric patterns, and a final celebratory event/performance project.