To invite creativity and imaginative play at Ardrossan Spray Park and Playground, I created an aluminum sculpture depicting native Albertan animal species, in grand proportion. A large dragonfly, hunting a mosquito above, creates a focal point and meeting location for the park. The piece offers large scale storytelling that is fun, while also educational regarding the importance of maintaining natural ecosystems. Predatory dragonflies are threatened around the world by loss of wetland habitat. Imagine if dragonflies were indeed 5 feet long with a 7-foot wingspan and could pick us up, fly away and eat us! That adventure is just one of the many imaginative ideas that visitors might contemplate while spending a day at the park.
Specific design elements include material and finishes that are durable and weather resistant: lightweight aluminum, stainless steel fasteners, perforated surfaces to reduce wind resistance and appropriate height placement to prevent climbing (approximately 11 feet vertical before branching out).
Continuing the hide and seek theme, 10 additional mosquitoes are hidden throughout the park to allow further interactive play and discovery.
initial concept sketch
screengrab of 3D model for dragonfly body
Lay out for cutting aluminum body panels and acrylic windows
acrylic pieces were cut
and screwed on with stainless steel screws before baking and bending .
Outside of body panel
section after heating and bending
assembling the dragonfly eyes
one leaf assembled
Me with a finished leaf. You can see the dozens of stainless steel screws which are not visible from below
The shot reminds me of a totem pole
After Welding the dragon fly to the stalk
Fabrication showing translucent acrylic body panels on the dragonfly
All packed protected and ready to make the trip. I made a special aluminum bracket that would support the gate down so that the sculpture would be protected
Installation with the help of Fred Nash from Art of the Move . “The “Dragonfly has landed”
Base Bolted on with Custom Stainless steel nut covers by Fred Nash
Eyes on the Prize
Completion Date: May 6th, 2020
Dimensions: 20 ft. high x 7 ft. wide
Location: Ardrossan, AB
Public Art Budget: $43,200
Medium: Aluminum, Acrylic, Stainless SteelWeight: 300 lbs
I have added some annotated photos of the creative and fabrication process below: