Elevation
> Commissioned for Central Lakes College, West Campus, through the Minnesota Percent for Art in Public Places Program
Located at the Heavy Equipment Operation and Maintenance Training Facility, 10004 255th Avenue, Staples, Minnesota
The images and form of Elevation relate to the goals and activities of the facility. The upper portion of the sculpture is a rectangle made of half-inch steel plate, six by 12 feet, that has been rolled into an open spiral form and balanced on one point atop a vertical cylinder base that is 14 inches in diameter by five feet high. The spiral form contains images, cut with a water jet, that relate to the site. The focal point is a heavy equipment operator in hardhat. Overhead, near the top of the form, are images of a shovel lifting and dropping a load of earth. The upward sweep of the spiral is intended to replicate the motion of the equipment operation. The balance of the spiral form, which hangs out over the base cylinder, replicates the seeming weightlessness that characterizes much of heavy equipment operation. The final color of the steel is like that of plowed earth.
Centered near the bottom, framed by two fish, is a footprint image or outline of the building. Above and to the left is a diagram of elevation degree lines that can be seen in a classroom. Other images are a distant farm and cityscape, airplane, wrench and various birds in flight. Line-and-dot map images reference the college's statewide student placement program.
The title refers to both the structural definition used in building, and the goal of students bettering themselves. Images of birds in flight are a visual metaphor that is aligned with this concept. The formal visual disposition of this sculpture is intended to stand on its own. The concept of balance as well as the contrast of light, shadow and color, dark red-brown against a blue sky, engage the viewer on a purely visual level.
The process for this commission was coordinated by the Minnesota Arts Board and involved a committee of university and community members who reviewed the past work of many artists, and selected Gehrke to present a proposal. The sculpture design process was one of interaction and collaboration with direction and input from the committee that was insightful and instrumental to the final outcome.
The bird species depicted are (from the top) Red-tailed Hawk, Great Blue Heron, two Common Nighthawks, a hovering Belted Kingfisher, Peregrine Falcon, two American Crows, two Rock Doves and seven Cliff Swallows. The fish are Black Crappie and Walleye.
Elevation, 2008
weathering steel
17'6" H x 60" W x 68" D
Located at the Heavy Equipment Operation and Maintenance Training Facility, 10004 255th Avenue, Staples, Minnesota
The images and form of Elevation relate to the goals and activities of the facility. The upper portion of the sculpture is a rectangle made of half-inch steel plate, six by 12 feet, that has been rolled into an open spiral form and balanced on one point atop a vertical cylinder base that is 14 inches in diameter by five feet high. The spiral form contains images, cut with a water jet, that relate to the site. The focal point is a heavy equipment operator in hardhat. Overhead, near the top of the form, are images of a shovel lifting and dropping a load of earth. The upward sweep of the spiral is intended to replicate the motion of the equipment operation. The balance of the spiral form, which hangs out over the base cylinder, replicates the seeming weightlessness that characterizes much of heavy equipment operation. The final color of the steel is like that of plowed earth.
Centered near the bottom, framed by two fish, is a footprint image or outline of the building. Above and to the left is a diagram of elevation degree lines that can be seen in a classroom. Other images are a distant farm and cityscape, airplane, wrench and various birds in flight. Line-and-dot map images reference the college's statewide student placement program.
The title refers to both the structural definition used in building, and the goal of students bettering themselves. Images of birds in flight are a visual metaphor that is aligned with this concept. The formal visual disposition of this sculpture is intended to stand on its own. The concept of balance as well as the contrast of light, shadow and color, dark red-brown against a blue sky, engage the viewer on a purely visual level.
The process for this commission was coordinated by the Minnesota Arts Board and involved a committee of university and community members who reviewed the past work of many artists, and selected Gehrke to present a proposal. The sculpture design process was one of interaction and collaboration with direction and input from the committee that was insightful and instrumental to the final outcome.
The bird species depicted are (from the top) Red-tailed Hawk, Great Blue Heron, two Common Nighthawks, a hovering Belted Kingfisher, Peregrine Falcon, two American Crows, two Rock Doves and seven Cliff Swallows. The fish are Black Crappie and Walleye.
Elevation, 2008
weathering steel
17'6" H x 60" W x 68" D