Mistic Tree
Location
Mistic Tree will be a poured concrete and resin tree that will be executed in a children's playground and/or an empty lot that can be turned into a cool refuge for the summer months.
About You
Location
Project Street Address
Project City
Pittsburgh
Project Province/State
PA
Project Postal/Zip Code
Project Country
United States
Your idea
Name Your Project
Mistic Tree
Describe Your Idea
Mistic Tree will be a poured concrete and resin tree that will be executed in a children's playground and/or an empty lot that can be turned into a cool refuge for the summer months.
Innovation
What is your idea? What makes your project innovative? Why is it important?
The unique and practical aspect to this highly aesthetic and ornate public sculpture is that the tree will be designed to pump out cool mist in an area that will be properly suited with drainage and open space. Water will be dispersing through a concealed imbedded pump and water arteries in the trunk, branches and roots. (Please refer to attached illustrations) The tree itself will be approximately 20 feet high with a dome that will measure 12 to 15 feet in the round. Mist will not only come off of the stylized tree branches of the dome, but also mist up from the trunk. The dome itself will be made up of cast and poured resin (plastic) hollow branches that will house the misting arteries. In the negative space between the branches will be filled with colored semi translucent plexi glas panels. When the sun shines on the dome and magnificent cascading mosaic of color will reflect on the ground. With the mist and radiating colored panels multiple rainbows will appear. The Mistic Tree will be a children’s wonderland, a kaleidoscope, a carousel, and a water park. Stunning and brilliant during the day and with artificial lighting from the floor, will transform it into a glowing oasis during the night, symbolic of a Childs imagination, vibrant and alive. The ground around the tree will be either astro turf or durable rubber matting equipped with 3 drainage holes, atop a concrete slab. Waterproof spotlights will be imbedded into the concrete for night viewing of the dome.
Impact
What will be the impact of your idea?
The ultimate impact will be the sharing, and integration of the children of the community, and a social structuring of parents and chaperones. The Mistic Tree will be a safe harbor for fun, communications and relief. While the sculpture is in progress, I will take time out of my workday to hold study groups with the children of the neighborhood, to outline what Imp doing on a day-to-day basis. I will teach the children about art, design, and architecture as the structure is being built. I will give seminars on different materials, how to make molds, and learn how to design a color spectrum for the dome. The branches will be hand formed with clay and then a mold will be made from that which will be cast in plastic. The children will take part in sculpting the branches from clay with my guidance. My assistants will finish the final castings in plastic. After the branches have been cast and installed with their water arteries, I will work with the children on how to create a mosaic color scheme for the dome. I see the whole process as a major educational and tutorial experience. This is hands on education not from a textbook. The applied arts, science, mechanics, scale, conceptual thought, will be taught.
What will it take to launch your idea? How will you secure community support and youth participation?
I will need to use the full 25000 in funding for material costs and a moderate stipend for 3 assistants (room, board, meals). With my wide range and technical understanding of many materials and processes, and with this interest I know how to purchase the right resources for the best cost. I will be able to use the full award and not go over the budget. 3 assistants with myself will do physical labor, but I welcome as much community support and volunteers as possible. I will take time out of my workday to hold study groups with the children of the neighborhood, to outline what I’m doing on a day-to-day basis. I will teach the children about art, design, and architecture as the structure is being built. I will give seminars on different materials, how to make molds, and design a color spectrum for the dome. The children will also take part in the making of the branches (please refer to the impact section of the application, where I go into detail about this).
Upon acceptance to do this project I will take the time to come to Pittsburgh to site specific investigations and visit schools and talk to teachers and parents about working on this project together.
The following materials will be needed to complete this project;
Location that has a city water source (underground pipe)
3000 pounds concrete mix
500 gallons of resin
40 feet of flexible plastic tubing 24-inch gauge
200 square feet of chicken wire
60 feet of steel rebar 1-inch gauge
50 feet of steel rebar 1/8 inch gauge
1 industrial water pump
200 feet of rubber tubing with mist dispensers ½ inch gauge
100 square feet of multi colored semi translucent plexi glas
400 square feet of astro turf or industrial rubber matting.
Drainage pipes and covers
3 spotlights and mechanisms
Assorted tools and protection related to the job
A complete itemization of prices will be determined.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Sustainability
We are looking for ideas from people who can make them happen. Tell us about yourself or your team.
I am a Pittsburgh native, and left Pennsylvania after I was accepted to the Pratt Institute of art and design in New York City for graduate studies.
I have been a professional working Fine Artist for the past 16 years. I am in numerous art collections, and have exhibited in America, Europe and Russia. To my credit I have been commissioned to do three public sculptures, one in the rural countryside of Pennsylvania and one on the grounds of a 14th century castle in the Czech Republic. My most recent award will be this fall in the city of Rotterdam Holland, where I will be creating another poured concrete structure in a Turkish neighborhood of the city. I am an accomplished sculptor, mixed media artist, casting and mold maker. I have thorough knowledge of all types of materials and processes, and with this interest know how to purchase the right resources for the best cost. I invite you to go to my website and look at my wide array of work, public sculpture and news of my upcoming project in Holland.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 1amist.jpg | 242.03 KB |
| 2atreepump4A.jpg | 235.7 KB |
| 3aWATERARTERY3.jpg | 274.57 KB |
| 4atopviewtree7.jpg | 271.1 KB |
| 5ascanned treeREFLECTSUN.jpg | 265.85 KB |
| 6ascannetreeSPOTLITE.jpg | 235.74 KB |
 | artman said: I think Jeph Gurecka's proposal for the Mistic Tree is a brilliant idea. What a beautiful attraction for the city of Pittsburgh. Not ... about this Competition Entry. - 966 days ago read more > |
| kimrigatti said: Upon reading the Mistic Tree project, I immediately envisioned a new twist on the quintessential urban summer - kids running ... about this Competition Entry. - 970 days ago read more > |
| David F. Grimm said: Jeph Gurecka has captured the essence of what a child's imagination must see. I have seen other examples of Jeph's work in ... about this Competition Entry. - 970 days ago read more > |
| keithhaugh said: My children and I have had an opportunity to view some of Mr. Gurecka's other works. My children were amazed by one piece which ... about this Competition Entry. - 970 days ago read more > |
| lgurecka said: The proposal for Mystic Tree was functional as well as beneficial to children. Jeph Gurecka has done a lot to make this proposal viable ... about this Competition Entry. - 974 days ago read more > |
| jsinatra updated this Competition Entry. - 984 days ago |
| jsinatra updated this Competition Entry. - 984 days ago |
| starryknight69 submitted this idea. - 984 days ago |
