I’m getting ready to start proposing variations on the Wheat sculptures. I have prepared the seedpod in Fusion 360 by making it one sold block of wood, and added the 39 stainless steel whiskers.

Here are the measurements that I’m considering:

• The seedpod is approximately 26″ by 6″ in diameter.
• The stalk is 20′ tall and 1.25″ in diameter.
• The 39 whiskers are 1/4″ (alternative: 1/8″) in diameter and about 6′ tall.
• The whole sculpture can be as tall as 28′ from the ground plane.

The material I am currently considering are:

• Stainless steel for both the stalk and the whiskers (alternative: galvanized steel or aluminum but not mixed).
• The seedpod is carved out of one solid block of either cedar or redwood.

There are several alternatives to be considered for the seedpod material.

• It could be painted PLA plastic. The PLA could be chromed. An advantage in using PLA is that it would be much lighter, which makes structural issues easier. (Crazy thought: I wonder what it would cost to have the PLA seedpod gold leafed.)
• It could be cast in aluminum, which would also make it lighter. Copper is another casting possibility, but I’m not sure if the greening would be desirable.