Client: Friends of Ann Arundel Trails

Overview

Spectrum, is installed at the Planet Walk Sun Station located on the B&A Trail. Spectrum is the sculptural essence of the sun. The rings not only represent the nine planets but give visual illustration of the light moving outward from the sun. Within the center hub of Spectrum are forty prisms. The prisms will reflect and refract the sun’s light rays producing an ever changing spectrum of color. The arrow points to the rainbow produced by the prisms in the sculpture.

Goals

Planet Walk is a linear art museum extending for 4.6 miles. Sculptural expressions of the sun and each planet will be placed at the distance and size appropriate to its relationship to the sun. The sculptures are not to be representations of the planets but to address the essence of each planet.
For most of us, our Solar System is immensely interesting but unfathomable. The
sculptures of Planet Walk provide the opportunity to bring a sense of reality and
provide a visual language to the Solar System. These works of art stand alone as
artistic expressions and inspire us to learn more.

Process

The artist developed several concept models for the sun station of Planet Walk. The Planet Walk committee reviewed all of the models and selected one to be fabricated. The artist created shop drawings and these with the model were presented to engineers. The engineers created stamped drawings to be used by the fabricators. Maryland Metals fabricated the stainless steel elements of the sculpture and Piedmont Plastics fabricated the 40 prisms.
The sculpture was moved to the site in three sections. Using a crane and man-lifts, Maryland Metals installed the stainless sections on site. The artist installed the prisms before the ringed section was lifted and attached to the two support arms. NASA installed the information boards at the site.

Additional Information

Location: Planet Walk on the B&A Trail, Maryland Materials: Stainless Steel, Resin Dimensions: 26’H x 8’W x 6’D. Commissioned by Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails, Maryland Transportation Authority and NASA.