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Energy Dance was selected by San Juan College in an invited competition between 5 nationally known artist to create a sculpture based on the theme of environmental sustainability for the Outdoor Learning Center at San Juan College. Not only did the committee feel that this proposal most successfully addressed the theme of environmental sustainability that is the foundation of the center, but also that Rae's passion for the intent of the project was evident during his presentation. They consider Rae's commitment to utilize locally sourced and recycled materials, which not only frames the history of energy production in the region but also creates an aesthetically beautiful work of art, to be the perfect fit for the site and for the community. The sculpture is to be completed in 2010. The following are excerpts from Rae's Presentation:
How do we achieve a sustainable life in a culture and economy based on the consumption of raw materials? We talk about energy consumption and most people think about it only in reference to powering their homes and automobiles. We often forget that almost everything we own and consume including our food and the great new energy saving gadgets touted by the green economy take energy to produce, and ship to us.
How do we live without taking as much as we are giving back?
How do we address this with art?
How can we justify the creation of a large public sculpture to tout the gospel of sustainability, if the process of its creation was not sustainable?
Is the creation of a large public sculpture just another expression act of consumption to create material wealth?
How can you create and deliver in a sustainable fashion?
How do you design the sculpture so that it will be as interdependent with the community with its message, and independent and inert as possible with its maintenance and own ongoing energy needs?
How do you express this message in a way the local community will understand and appreciate?
These are all questions that I have pondered in the creation of sculpture for the Outdoor Learning Center.
Since the largest energy consumers in any construction project are in the manufacturing of new materials and shipment and transportation to the jobsite, it was immediately apparent that the sculpture needed to be constructed on site out of recycled material sourced in or near to Farmington. Recycled drilling pipe was chosen because of its abundance, structural integrity, and rich history with the local community, and global energy: a poetic notion of creating new out of old. There is a rich local workforce familiar with working with the drilling pipe, which will be employed in the erection of the sculpture to provide a stimulus to the local economy.
There will be roughly 60 pairs of pipe raised so that their tops touch each other to form an inverted “V”. The pairs will be arranged into two interlocking crescents alluding to the symbol of recycling, fellowship, and dance. The pipes will be nearly 30 feet long and placed at a nearly vertical angle, and connected so that their tops will be exposed to soar and frame the magnificent sky of the Four Corners. The arrangement of pipes will create dynamic visual “moiré” patterns as the viewer moves around the sculpture that will resemble the natural flow of energy and the elemental forces of rain wind fire and water. The visual patterns will also allude to the patterns found in the rich native art and traditions in the area. The pipes are made or heavy thick steel that can be left to rust naturally in the dry local climate without compromising their structural integrity. The dark rusted surface will be comfortable to the eyes, and appear mostly in silhouette that will enhance the “moiré” effect. The sculpture will appear to be kinetic without actually moving.
The sculpture will be placed on a peninsula surrounded by the retention pond. This location is visible from most of the site, and the college. The sculpture will be bold and tall, announcing its presence to the college in a similar way that Shiprock does to the four corners. A walkway will be provided around the perimeter of the pond and through the sculpture to heighten interaction with the sculpture and awareness of the pond. The sustainable use of water is key to survival in the desert southwest, and the reflection and interaction of the sculpture and the pond will stimulate awareness of this.
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