The City of El Paso to Unveil Art Work by Doug Taylor
Posted Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Upper Valley Sails by Doug Taylor, 2010
The City of El Paso Public Art Program and Representative Ann Morgan Lilly invite the public to the dedication and unveiling of Upper Valley Sails, a kinetic sculpture designed by artist Doug Taylor, located on the traffic circle intersection of Country Club Rd. and Upper Valley, on Monday, July 19, 2010, from 9 to10 a.m.
About the Project
As part of a traffic improvement project in district 1, the City of El Paso approved the construction of a roundabout traffic circle where two percent (2%) of funds were set aside for the design, fabrication, and installation of permanent public art. Upon review by an artist selection panel, the Public Art Committee, and the Cultural Affairs Advisory Board, artist Doug Taylor was selected from a pre-qualified group of artists to provide an iconic sculptural piece of art.
About the Art Work
Upper Valley Sails is a three sail kinetic, wind powered sculpture reminiscent of the cottonwood seeds, ubiquitous in the areas, floating translucent against the sky. The sculpture’s location and function symbolically recognize the site as a historic trade and travel route, transporting people and goods, commemorating a shared cultural history. The artist strategically built and designed the sculpture for comfort and not for speed in the effort to keep a slow moving turbine that is self governed in high force winds. As wind velocity increases, the rotor slows while the sails adopt a horizontal bias.
About the Artist
Artist Doug Taylor focuses largely on wind- and water-powered kinetic works, implementing renewable energy and exploring the relationship between society, technology and the environment. Taylor’s work has been installed at sites such as Whistler’s World Cup Plaza, Victoria’s Selkirk Waterfront and Vancouver’s False Creek (George Wainborne Park) and Kitsalano Pool.
Upper Valley Sails by Doug Taylor, 2010
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