{"id":212,"date":"2014-08-05T19:55:37","date_gmt":"2014-08-05T19:55:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/graphicdisplayusa.com\/blog\/?p=212"},"modified":"2020-02-12T00:00:27","modified_gmt":"2020-02-12T00:00:27","slug":"eagle-inspired-public-artwork-takes-flight-gatorfoam-graphic-display-board","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/3acompositesusa.com\/blog\/eagle-inspired-public-artwork-takes-flight-gatorfoam-graphic-display-board\/","title":{"rendered":"Eagle-Inspired Public Artwork Takes Flight With Gatorfoam Graphic Display Board"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ef6c76f7b79b692299b0f7e9d8a9f21c_f482\"<\/a>Not unlike its artistic inspiration, community spirits soared at the June 7 unveiling of the new \u201cEagles in Flight\u201d public artwork in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, as part of the city\u2019s 2014 Pitt Meadows Day and Centennial celebration. The cubed-shaped mural installed in the city\u2019s Harris Road Park is a collaborative effort of Pitt Meadows\u2019 resident and internationally recognized artist Brad Dinwoodie and community residents.<\/p>\n

The Dinwoodie-designed mural features 288 8-by-8-inch tiles cut from four 4-by-8-foot sheets of 3\/16-inch thick Bright White Gatorfoam\u00ae graphic display board and painted by a wide representation of area residents at the previous year\u2019s annual city celebration. The painted Gatorfoam tiles were pieced together to create one mosaic image onto which Dinwoodie airbrushed an overlay of eagles in flight with mountains in the background to reinforce Pitt Meadows\u2019 designation as \u201cThe Natural Place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe enthusiasm and excitement from the kids and parents around the mural was just so exciting,\u201d said Dinwoodie, co-founder of WT Designs<\/a> in Pitt Meadows. \u201cIt\u2019s terrific to see this work installed for everyone to enjoy for many years to come. Participants should be proud that they had a hand in making this fabulous mural.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople think this community mural is awesome and ask if those are the tiles that they painted,\u201d said Susann Sigmund, past chair of the Pitt Meadows Public Art Steering Committee and a local photographer\/designer. \u201cKids who painted the tiles love it. And, their parents appreciate the fact that the city is showcasing their work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"4800d372d861a8116ccc712208e14e2a_f478\"<\/a>The idea for the mural came about as a way for the Pitt Meadows Public Art Steering Committee not only to educate local residents about public art but to engage children at the 2013 Pitt Meadows Day celebration, according to Sigmund.<\/p>\n

Gatorfoam was recommended as an ideal lightweight-yet-rigid substrate for the mural by Kevin Josephison, territory sales specialist for the Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, branch of EM Plastic & Electric Products Ltd<\/a>., a Gatorfoam distributor.<\/p>\n

Gatorfoam consists of polystyrene foam bonded between two layers of wood-fiber veneer laminate \u2013 a unique construction that makes this substrate rigid yet lightweight and warp-resistant; its surface also is exceptionally smooth and strong, offering superior dent- and scratch-resistance.<\/p>\n

\"dafa96f89949b1a656b30a7064d89773_f476\"<\/a>\u201cWe wanted a material that would be lightweight, that wouldn\u2019t break down and that would be mold-, mildew- and moisture-resistant,\u201d said Dinwoodie.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrad creates some very high-end artwork,\u201d said Josephison. \u201cHe\u2019s my benchmark. \u2026 They were very pleased with Gatorfoam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gatorfoam regularly is used to create interior signage and displays and can be digitally direct-printed. Dinwoodie\u2019s original mural design was printed onto the four 4-by-8 sheets of Bright White Gatorfoam by Port Coquitlam-based Epic Imaging, Inc.<\/a>, which utilized a Fujifilm Acuity UV flatbed printer.<\/p>\n

\u201cGatorfoam offers a nice smooth surface that prints well,\u201d said Josee Robinson, purchasing manager, Epic Imaging. \u201cGatorfoam\u2019s (wood-fiber veneer) surface makes it more rigid. It lasts a long time and doesn\u2019t dent.\u201d<\/p>\n

The printed mural was cut into 288 8-by-8-inch tiles that were numbered on the reverse side for placement in the finished artwork. Local children, teens and adults gathered at the 2013 Pitt Meadow s Day were asked to paint the tiles with exterior acrylic house paints in bright colors.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe let them have a heyday \u2026 The kids got the concept but still didn\u2019t understand that they should paint within the lines (of the printed mural design),\u201d said Sigmund, explaining the need for Dinwoodie\u2019s airbrushed overlay image.<\/p>\n

\"4d9ee330fdfd5edcb69a15266092e71e_f479\"<\/a>Finding a large interior wall within city-owned property to display the completed mural \u2013 which measured 8 feet tall by 16 feet wide \u2013 proved to be another challenge. So, Sigmund and Dinwoodie devised a plan to display the mural outdoors wrapped around a three-dimensional aluminum frame containing cement-board walls. The sculpture would feature a rain-guard top and be secured to a poured concrete base. The painted Gatorfoam tiles would be adhered to the cement board with LePage PL Premium construction adhesive. Any exposed edges or spaces between the tiles would be sealed with clear silicone. The entire mural would be sealed with four coats of a urethane-based UV clear acrylic in order to protect it from the elements, UV sunlight (fading) and graffiti.<\/p>\n

While Gatorfoam routinely is utilized for interior displays, 3A Composites USA has introduced Gatorfoam Exterior for outdoor applications. Available in 1-inch, 1.5-inch and 2-inch thicknesses in the Bright White color, Gatorfoam Exterior is manufactured with a top-grade adhesive that is designed to withstand exterior conditions. Any exposed foam edges of Gatorfoam Exterior must be protected from UV exposure with a high-quality, pigmented water-based coating or other UV barrier.<\/p>\n

In order to gain project approval from the Pitt Meadows City Council, Dinwoodie contacted Gary Scott, senior technical field representative, 3A Composites USA, to review his plans for installing this mural outdoors.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe advise customers to utilize Gatorfoam Exterior for outdoor applications because it is specifically designed to withstand exterior weather conditions as long as the edges are protected from UV exposure that can discolor and eventually degrade the polystyrene,\u201d said Scott. \u201cThis mural was engineered so well \u2013 with the Gatorfoam tiles well-protected from UV exposure and other weather conditions \u2013 that I was able to recommend it in a letter to the Pitt Meadows City Council.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"431947d8c42aaae348cd1ea9dfd3760a_f484\"<\/a>\u201cIt was an amazing experience to be able to phone and talk to technical experts at 3A Composites,\u201d said Sigmund. \u201cThe city council at first rejected our proposal and we knew that couldn\u2019t be right. We were so happy that a technical team member at 3A Composites would talk to Brad. If it wasn\u2019t for Gary Scott, this project wouldn\u2019t have happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not unusual for us to get involved in these types of projects,\u201d said Scott. \u201cWe want to help with these projects upfront.\u201d<\/p>\n

While most materials, design services and labor were donated by local businesses for the \u201cEagles in Flight\u201d mural sculpture, the City of Pitt Meadows Public Art Steering Committee and City Council had to vote to absorb the expense of structural engineering services, the aluminum frame and installation.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor our little community (population 18,200), this was a really big deal,\u201d said Sigmund.<\/p>\n

Added Dinwoodie: \u201cThis mural turned out even better than the city council imagined. Since children painted the majority of tiles, they\u2019ll be able to come back year after year to see it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Photography courtesy of \u00a9 Susann Sigmund<\/p>\n