Alachua Astronomy Club: Solar System Walk Call to Artists

	Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc.	Member Astronomical League	Member International Dark-Sky Association
	Solar System Walk	Member Astronomical League	Member International Dark-Sky Association
	29°39' N, 82°21' W Altitude: 50 Meters (more or less)		Updated Aug. 29, 2006
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Solar Walk Guidelines
February 1999

The City of Gainesville, Department of Cultural Affairs has approved a "Solar Walk Project."

Artists submitted proposals
The Art in Public Places Trust (APPT) has selected Tarpon Springs artist and former University of Florida student, Elizabeth Indianos, to create a site-specific artwork. The work is to represent the solar system in a linear format at a scale of four billion to one along Northwest Eighth Avenue in Gainesville, Florida. This project was initiated by the Gainesville City Commission and is intended to replace and embellish the model of the solar system which was previously on this site.

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF THE WORK

The incorporation of educational interpretation is suggested. Such things as date of discovery, mythical origins, astronomical symbol, revolution period around sun, diameter, mass, density, gravity and other data provided by AAC could be part of the artwork or installed on a plaque with each piece. Both an image and a scaled representation of each planet should be included in the artwork. For example, the scale will render Pluto the size of a grain of sand compared to Earth, so additional, larger images will convey more complete information (see table below describing scale).

Design

The artwork will include two and three dimensiona elements.

At least ten individual pieces should comprise the work; Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto. (Moon and Charon, Earth's and Pluto's satellites, are large enough to be included as well if desired.)

Monument designs will show artistic consistency.

Reflective items or reflective paint must be incorporated into the design.

Location

The project will be on the southern edge of N.W. 34th Street, and the nine planets placed in a line going east along N.W. Eighth, with Pluto at about NW 23rd Street. The specific locations are marked on the sidewalk in orange paint. The berm where each planet is located may be built up to accommodate artwork if needed. A footprint of the project at each site should not exceed approximately a four foot square.

Scale

The scale will be four billion to 1. The AAC will provide information on the distances and scale. This scale applies to distances between planets, as well as their relative sizes.

Audience

While the project is predominantly oriented to pedestrians, drivers should be able to see the planets as well.

Students at Littlewood Elementary School will use the model as part of their science curriculum. Tactile elements are encouraged, and relief areas for rubbings are encouraged. (Students may devise "passports" to be "stamped" at each planet.)

Accessibility to the physically challenged, for example, through relief designs for the blind (which also could serve as surfaces for children to do rubbings), wheelchair accommodation, large type on signs, etc. is encouraged.

Installation

The City of Gainesville will assist with installation. The berm along the road may be built up by the City to accommodate larger pieces and viewers. Safety considerations should include avoiding sharp or dangerous corners.

BUDGET

T budget includes design, construction, and installation (with assistance from the City). The City Commission will contribute to this project, and the AAC is also raising money. The balance must come form public spirited citizens. The estimatged total budget cost is approximately $30,000.

SELECTION PROCESS

The selection committee, consisted of the APPT and representatives from the AAC, reviewed proposals for this project for recommendation to the City Commission. Subsequently, the APPT recommended Tarpoon Springs artist, Elizabeth Indianos, to design and build this project. The City Commission concurred with this recommendation at its meeting on May 24, 1999.

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