Three-Dimensional Street Crossing – Metuchen, New Jersey (2017)
Artist Edward Wetzel set out to create a 3D pedestrian crossing on December 2, 2017. The location was a private parking lot near a building that was recently substantially renovated and housing several restaurants and a retail shop. Despite being a parking lot, people would walk through between Main Street and new development around a Whole Foods anchor. When the owner was evaluating crossings, costly stamped and thermoplastic crossing materials were proposed. For approximately, one-seventh of the cost a more artistic take was possible.
Step 1: Set the point of origin. A tripod was set up to mark the point of origin and left in place throughout the day.
Step 2: Sketch outlines for supporting sides and shadow beneath them. Chalk and measuring rods are used to show the approximate area to later paint. These will be refined as new lines are laid out from the point of origin.
Step 3: Set first line from point of origin to lower left of outermost rectangle in crosswalk.
Step 4: Set out shadow with corner meeting line from point of origin in Step 3.
Step 5: Set next line from point of origin to lower left corner of second crosswalk rectangle.
Step 6: Set line to right corner of second crosswalk rectangle.
At this stage of the process, it is possible to begin seeing the lines and shapes stack one on top of the other. With the pattern set, repetition for each of the subsequent lines and shapes is easier to project.
Step 7: Draw line from point of origin to upper right corner of second crosswalk rectangle.
Step 8: Strike a parallel line for the shadow several inches to the right of the sidewalk crossing rectangle and along the line set in the previous step.
Step 9: Repeat steps 5 to 8 for each sidewalk crossing rectangle.
Sept 10: Chalk base lines and lengths for the top and bottom of all shadow boxes.
Step 11: Draw outlines for all shadow rectangles.
Step 12: Set masking tape around different areas to paint.
Step 13: Paint darker color gray in shape between the sidewalk crossing rectangles.
Step 14: Paint lighter shade of gray near the front of the three-dimensional shape.
Step 15: Paint shadows beneath 3D shapes.
Step 16: Remove tape and let paint dry.
Final Results
