Some details of Roslindale's Public Art Project by George Greenamyer

Drawing #1 -- Site Plan and Side Elevation of Sculpture in Traffic Island:
The placement of the sculpture is in the center of the planter section. The side elevation shows the placement and the size relative to the size of the island, lamps and signs, etc.

Photo 1A – Current Conditions Showing Height and Width of Sculpture
In order to get a physical feel of the height of the sculpture in a site that is so visually competitive, I held a 16 foot 2 x 4 with a 6-foot long “top” while my wife took photos from all directions. To discourage pedestrians from being inside the planter, I propose prickly bushes around the base.

Drawing #2 – Front Elevation and Plan:

I propose that the base (4 feet tall and 2 feet wide) be saw cut gray granite. Black iron, red brick and gray granite are classic New England materials. The column would be fabricated from steel flanges, pipes and weld caps. The ring structure with paddles would be made from channel iron and steel plate. All structural parts would be painted with black epoxy paint. The figures and vehicles on top would be forged and fabricated steel and painted with industrial quality oil enamels. The overall height from street level is 16 feet 8 inches. A spindle inside the upper part of the column would rotate on weather tight, “off the shelf,” sealed bearings. My mechanical engineer would design, assemble and install the mechanical elements. A licensed structural engineer would “stamp” the construction drawings. The narrative shown in my initial/preliminary design has a contemporary motif. It would be like a yearbook photo. Note that the vehicles are narrower in proportion to actual ones and are curved to fit the ring. If selected I would document the various vehicles that travel through the intersection and choose representatives of the vehicles and the various cultures of the travelers.

Drawing #3 – Enlarged Plan:
This shows more detail in the plan of the narrative, the wind machine, the column and the base. The projections are angled to catch the wind and rotate the ring in a counter clockwise motion. With this style of wind machine, an increasing wind pushes equally on the back of the paddles, which acts as a natural “brake”. Depending on the wind, it could move fast, slow or be stopped. Like the traffic.

Drawing #4 – Detail of Car (Full Scale):
Note that the detail drawings are drawn flat, not curved, as they would be in the sculpture. By putting the drivers on top of the vehicles instead of leaving them hidden inside, I can show off each driver’s personality. This is unexpected and unorthodox and brings out the humor. The colors would be bright and cheerful. There would be eight vehicles in the contemporary version, all about 18 inches tall.

Alternative Historical Image (Half Scale):
The narrative could be based on historical transportation instead. (Note: The finished height of a historical vehicle would be the same as the contemporary vehicle, but be longer. Instead of eight vehicles on the ring, there would be fewer, but the circumference would be essentially be the same.) I would work with a historian or an advisory committee to design several historical choices. Whether contemporary or historical, I would work with the committee to insure that the narrative images selected were appropriate and accurate.