Client: Shea Development

Overview

This work, a sculpture and fountain, titled “Coastal Conversion”, is a design that responds to the local environment. Poetic in conception, the work refers to the steelhead trout, an endangered species, which appears to leap from the net. The fishing net, traditionally floated by the Japanese by glass spheres, is here inverted, the spherical floats enclosed and submerged in the water. The net opens up transforming into native river basin reeds and the leaping fish. The work is 16′ high and is the basin for a fountain that extends 35′ into a public space/park.

Goals

This sculpture/fountain is one of 10 public art projects commissioned by Shea Development through art consultant, Patric Ela, for the Collection at RiverPark. This is a commercial development, an outside lifestyle and retail space, located in the central coast of California. The developer was very interested in integrating art throughout the project. "Coastal Conversion" was designed as the centerpiece for the public space of the development.

Process

The art consultant chose 7 artists from LA and Ventura County to submit designs for spaces designated for public art. Proposals were reviewed by the Developer, architects, landscape and waterscape designers. All players were informed about the ideas and materials throughout the project, hence, integration was desired and meaningful. Diversity of thought and materials were achieved through collaborative meetings.

Additional Information

I worked with an amazing fabricator, Jeff Sanders. He was able to make the full-sized work from my 1" scale model and engineer the water element of the sculpture. The fabrication process was seamless.