Dragonfly on High

Dragonfly on High is a large scale public art sculpture that explores the physical properties of light using diffraction gratings to bring the viewer into a new art experience. Light shining on the diffraction gratings, either natural daylight or artificial light at night, is split into a rainbow of colors. The colors of the diffracted light change as either the observer or the light source moves.

The dragonfly is 6 feet long with a 9-foot wide wingspan. The red-brown cattail on which the insect perches is 15 feet tall and has a rich patina from the oxidized steel. The dragonfly itself is brilliant in color and light reflectivity. The insect’s huge red watchful eyes startle and captivate through their red diffraction grating covering, which also shine and reflect colors. The transparent/translucent wings, delicate and filmy in appearance, are solidly constructed of steel rod and polyester resin.

Fabrication, Materials and Dimensions:

The body is constructed of a 3/8” welded steel rebar skeleton covered by ½” square galvanized hardware cloth, over which sections of diffraction gratings are cemented with construction grade, exterior polyurethane adhesive. The skeleton for the dragonfly’s eyes is formed with welded steel rod over which is applied galvanized hardware cloth, to which red diffraction gratings are cemented with the same polyurethane adhesive.

The wings’ skeletal structure and “veins” are constructed of different diameter welded steel rods. The wings are cast polyester resin.

The cattail’s stem is a 15-foot tall carbon steel pipe that is 6” in diameter. The 20” diameter cattail flower has a skeleton of 3/8” steel rebar, covered by 20-gauge, cold rolled, perforated carbon steel sheet. The perforations are ½” in diameter, and are staggered 11/16” on center. The cattail leaves are fabricated of the same perforated steel sheet. The leaves’ edges and central vertical vein are fabricated of notched, carbon steel pipe to which the perforated steel is welded for rigidity and robustness.