Gazing up at the "leaves" of this urban tree, you wonder if you are watching glassy fish from below the water's surface. The laser cut shapes of the tree canopy have more than one interpretation, but the design actually represents the universal diagram for the "points of sail", the term used to describe a sailing boat's course in relation to wind direction. Throughout history sailing has been instrumental in the development of civilization and advances in sailing technology from the 15th century onward enabled explorers to make longer voyages into regions including what is today San Diego. This sculpture is primarily inspired by viewing today’s sailboats in the bay as well as local windsurfing and kite boarding enthusiasts, but also remembers the America's Cup races of the early 90's that took place in San Diego.

Welded metal shapes will support dichroic glass within the aluminum framework. Dichroic glass, which appears to have multiple colors, owes its special optical properties to the multiple micro-layers of metal oxides within the glass.

Slightly raised metal “fins” will capture the bay breeze and create movement of the canopy around the “mast”. Sealed bearings will allow a continuous change of reflected color that will give the impression of dappled sunlight through leaves, or the shimmer of water against the scales on a fish. A ring at the base of the tree will be inscribed with a diagram describing the corresponding points of sail.

Artwork Dimensions : 12’ x 10’

Materials:
Aluminum with welded attachments. Dichroic glass supported within the framework of the metal shapes. Sealed bearings will allow for the top portion of the tree to rotate.

$10,000