Client: Scottsdale Public Art

Location: Scottsdale, AZ, United States

Completion date: 2015

Artwork budget: $150,000

Project Team

Artist

Curtis Pittman

Public Art Agent

Scottsdale Public Art

Scottsdale Public Art

Industry Resource

Greg Brockman

Magnum Companies

Industry Resource

Chris Tung

KPFF Structural Engineers

Industry Resource

Ella Mills

Biella Lighting Design

Industry Resource

Rich Lamothe

Glass Strategies

Overview

Delicately emerging from the landscape, Diamond Bloom serves as an icon marking the southern edge of Scottsdale’s arts district. It’s form is reminiscent of the flora found in the majestic Sonoran landscape. Two upward sweeping arcs converge above creating a passageway to engage visitors from the public parking garage to the formal entrance of the Museum. The brass panels, glass fins, and colored lights are strategically placed to produce a luminous colorplay both day and night, reflecting the sparkling energy of life in the west.

Goals

In creating Diamond Bloom, careful study was put into the Western Spirit site, striving to produce a sculpture that would compliment the newly built Scottsdale's Museum of the West, designed by Studio Ma, as well as the modernist lines of the historic Loloma Transit Station, designed by architect Vito Acconci.
The sculpture embraces the walkway that leads from the museum’s public garage to its formal entrance, the Scottsdale Charros Gateway Foyer. Visitors can literally walk through the sculpture en route to and from the museum. Functionally, Diamond Bloom is a catalyst to action, drawing people from one area to the next. It was important for the artwork to have interactive qualities as well as a sense of functional purpose.

Process

Residing in Portland, OR with a project in Scottsdale, AZ, a strong collaboration with my consultants was instrumental to this projects success. Structural engineers, lighting consultants, glass fabricators, and steel fabricators were all an integral part of my team. My responsibilities are both as artist and contractor. With a background in architecture, I have the skill-set to produce all conceptual 3D drawings as well as all the working drawings for sculpture fabrication. This ability allows me to closely manage the fabrication sequence to ensure that the highest level of quality is met.