Sundial-Flatland sculpture

Sundial-Flatland

Category: Outdoor Sculpture

Collection: Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Inc. and The Arts Council of Indianapolis

Location: Fletcher Park, Indianapolis

Medium type: Steel, Plexiglas

Date created: 2013

Artist Andrew Severns inspiration for this sculpture was the geometry of the triangular shaped Fletcher Park. The shape of the park is near exact to the 3-4-5 Pythagorean triangle. “This particular shape has many interesting properties. Each side can be measured as a rational number, and the shape allows for a substitution rule, meaning the shape can be subdivided into smaller self-similar shapes, and then sub-divided and divided again. I had decided to ‘play’ with this geometry a bit as inspiration for the monument.”

The monument is a triangular shaped object with rounded corners to imitate the shape of Fletcher Park as can be seen from an aerial view. The shape is constructed of a steel frame, which is then subdivided into smaller and smaller self-similar triangles by welding smaller steel frames in-between. The steel structure is powder coated white and houses panels of Plexiglas in different colors and sheens to create a mosaic sculpture which is illuminated by its surroundings for an almost magical effect.

Many different types of Plexiglas are used including clear colored, translucent colored, and mirror colored in greens, teals and purples. This creates 3-way interaction between the viewer, the monument and the surrounding environment. Some of the panels are completely see through, some are opaque and backlit by the daylight while others will be a reflective mirror surface. When driving or biking along, the monument sparkles with life, appearing different at each viewpoint. Additionally, the shadow of the sculpture is its own colorful element by projecting daylight through the colored translucent panels, changing with the time of day and seasons.

The triangle itself stands 8 feet high, spanning 6 feet. The structure is mounted upon a concrete base elevated 1 foot from the ground. Accounting for the concrete base, the monument stands about 10 feet above ground level making it easily viewable from the road.