The sculpture at the Arts & Environment Center at Lowe Park entrance seeks to capture the beauty, character, and process of the Iowa prairie, an ecosystem that is integral to the midwest. This once-bountiful landscape, which once covered 70%-85% of the land, has been drastically reduced to less than 1% due to agricultural conversion, urban sprawl, fire suppression, among other factors. The prairie provides essential habitat for wildlife, stores carbon, and provides a unique landscape for recreation, making it all the more important to preserve and protect this unique ecosystem. The sculpture emphasizes the prairie’s importance and genetic and biological diversity to the state of Iowa and the midwest.

The artwork not only captures the essence of the Iowa prairie but also represents a fusion of traditional sculptural techniques with cutting-edge digital fabrication processes. Through the use of computational algorithms, the dynamic form of the sculpture was generated, creating a unique aesthetic that echoes the organic patterns found in the prairie roots systems. This innovative approach allowed for the creation of complex geometries that would have been difficult to produce with traditional sculptural methods. By integrating digital tools into the artistic process, the sculpture exemplifies the potential of technology to complement and enhance the practice of art. Overall, the artwork underscores the significance of preserving the prairie’s biological diversity and serves as a testament to the possibilities of merging traditional and digital art forms.