Alcohol in Utah: a grant proposal

The following is an excerpt from a recent grant proposal I submitted-- although it hasn't been fabricated or approved (yet), I hope it will help inspire some mature dialog about the role of alcohol in society.  The request was made by Utah's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (DABC), which owns and operates all of the liquor stores in the state.  For those unfamiliar with the Promised Land, think of it like going to the DMV to get a bottle of wine.

4 views of the proposed sculpture

Summary
The DABC has the wonderful opportunity to support the arts and establish a distinct visual presence at its new stores across the state.  I propose to build a permanent outdoor sculpture of steel and concrete that depicts the plants from which beer, wine, and spirits are made.

The Site
If Utahns are anything, they are connected to their land.  Many of our traditions and livelihood depend directly upon it.  In fact, just blocks away from the Holladay Liquor Store there are community gardens and horse pastures.  Even our license plates show the rocks and the weather that make Utah a world famous destination.  Without the natural ecosystems of Utah and the land that support them, we would literally loose our sense of place.

I think it would be interesting to show the link between the land and the things that the DABC sells.  Many of the plants from which beer, wine, and spirits are made are grown in Utah; we have our own vineyards and breweries which are familiar to the store’s patrons.  Although I’ve presented this sculpture in the context of the Holladay store, will work thematically and visually with any of the other sites available should they be found to be more appropriate venues.

Sculpture on-site at one of the liquor stores

The Sculpture
In this proposal I include conceptual images of a sculpture placed on the Holladay store grounds.  It will be approximately 4 feet wide by 4 feet deep and 7 feet tall.

It is comprised of a square concrete base on top of which are permanently mounted four steel panels forming an enclosed box.  Cut out of each panel are depictions of specific plants that are key ingredients for some of the products sold in the Liquor Store.  For example, barley and hops are crucial in the beer making process and are aesthetically powerful images when rendered out of the steel plates.  In addition, the names of the plants will be inscribed on the concrete base.

The design of the sculpture is such that maintenance will be kept to a minimum.  The steel will develop a deep red rust patina and is of a gauge thick enough that the metal will not be structurally compromised.  The concrete base will also be reinforced and treated to avoid cracking and deterioration.