Concrete Tree Art Proposal

My Inspiration:
Impervious cover: “is the amount of land cover in roads, buildings and parking lots, and turf grass cover in a watershed and can seriously impact biotic integrity in associated streams” (US EPA).

Impervious cover affects humans: can lead to rapid flooding and due to runoff water, can contaminate water supplies. Naturally, water would seep into the soil and the soil would act as a filter for the water as it moves its way into the watershed. Natural areas slow the flow of water during heavy rains and the absorption process takes in some of the excess water.
The City of Austin did a study over 10 years ago that included estimated percentages of impervious cover in different Austin settings. I am focusing on downtown and the study indicated that the coverage is around 60%. Austin’s has grown substantially since this study took place: more development means more impervious cover (http://www.crwr.utexas.edu/).
A study by the State of Virginia states that hundred year floods can double in likelihood by exceeding impervious cover levels over 30 percent and they state that 15 percent impervious is ideal to maintain a healthy watershed (http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/documents/lrDEImperviousCover.pdf).

Impervious cover also damages animals on land and in the water. The water can be unhealthy for drinking due to toxins from roads and sidewalks, including litter and oil.
This is harmful for animals that live in the water for similar reasons.

So, my inspiration is decreasing impervious cover through sustainable development that allows enough greenspace for a safe water supply for humans and animals.

Determining my Location:
My proposed public art centers on impervious cover and all its implications, so its site is very important. I need an urban site with a lot of new construction and very little greenspace. I want to place my “tree” on a small plot of grass along a sidewalk that Austinites frequent. Downtown will be ideal for this and the plot of grass needs to be flat.

I found my site: 2nd St. and Guadalupe

Audience:

My audience will be the general public. Hopefully, this will include builders and city planners among the shopping foot-traffic. There will be a plaque with a brief explanation of my reasoning behind the proposed public artwork.

Materials:
Concrete: 5 cu.Yds. $75yd x 5 = $375
Steel: 2 tons. $560ton x 2= $1120
Welder: $250hr= $20,000

Total Cost: $21,495





Plans:
1. Get permission to use the space.
2. Buy materials.
3. Get a welder.
4. Make the tree. Approximately 18ft tall and 12 ft wide at it’s maximum. The trunk diameter should be between ¾’ and 1’.

The steel will be welded in the shape of the tree. I choose steel as a material because my research indicated it was strong enough to bear the weight of concrete. After the tree has been welded and bolted to the ground, concrete will coat it entirely. Last, the place will be placed.

by: Meagan Kaufman