Geo-Cell inventor designs usable art

Al Arellanes, the San Franciscan whose Rapid Deployment Flood Wall design helped protect valley residents during its 100 day installation this spring and summer, returned in mid-July to be on-hand when it was removed.

While here — in LaMoure, N.D., actually — he decided to design an improved method of removing sand from the flood barrier. In earlier removals, he used a vacuum system that took out the strong, solid fill and deposited it into trucks ready for disposal. He said he didn’t like its inconsistency. It was time-consuming and he wanted something to make a section of the honey-comb plastic dividers lift up and away, while leaving the sand intact.

So his creative mind came up with a new way, and it was the improved lifting invention that cleared the entire area in short order. And, as is true for all prototypes, as a first, it’s truly a work of art.

While working in mid-July to remove Geo-Cell units in LaMoure, he drew up a plan for using pallet pullers (from Graingers) that can handle 5,000 pounds each, attached to a reinforced, welded steel frame. The big red scissor-like clamps hang like so many lobsters from chains at intervals and are attached to blocks that reinforce the plastic sections, preventing damage to it. Chains are attached to cross members radiating to a central hook and lifted straight up by a front-end loader like a huge honeycomb, then gently laid on the ground for reuse.

Like the father of a newborn, he attended its first exercises and watched as every part functioned in perfect choreography. In reality, it was like a kinetic sculpture, with a crew making it all work in harmony.

It was like attending an art show opening. As the artist, he was as antsy as a painter watching an art critic tour the show. He gave instructions to the crew how to use the “grappler,” as he called it, and then began the pace, allowing others to physically make his invention correctly do what he intended it to do: gently lift up his giant honeycomb box that when filled with sand, holds back bullets, grenades or floods. And like the artist, the proof is in the next day’s entertainment section of the paper, or in his case, the sections came up clean, quickly and safely.

His “baby” took its first steps.

His attending partners, this time for the removals, included Ruben Rios, a businessman from Texas, and Kenny Dunluvy, who accompanies the designer to disaster sites in order to help implement careful installation of the Geo-Cell system and its careful removal. Rios said there is a group of about 10 to 15 guys who travel with Arellanes, and he has been with him on and off for about 15 years. He had just arrived in Jamestown and was getting used to a cooler-than-usual July.

Arellanes said if he could inspire young people, it would be to encourage them to follow their dreams. He has spent a lifetime doing that and he and his investors seemed to enjoy their work as much as artists attending a group show.

If anyone has an item for this column, please send to Sharon Cox, PO Box 1559, Jamestown ND 58402-1559.

Tags: art voices, sharon cox, geo cell, diversions, art