Client: Kaiser Permanente Medical Offices
Location: Union City, CA, United States
Completion date: 2020
Project Team
Project management
Beth Jones
Beth Jones Art Consultant
Client
Stephen K. Wong
Kaiser Permanente, National Facilities Services Greater Southern Alameda Area
Artist, designer and fabricator
Kana Tanaka
Kana Tanaka Art, Inc
Glass Fabrication
Glow Glass Studio
Metal Fabrication
Wyatt Studio, Inc.
Overview
Reminiscent of the wildflowers that line local hiking trails, this artwork was inspired by clusters of flowering yellow fennel growing alongside Alameda Creek. In the 78 foot long / two story high entry lobby, the series of 15 flower clusters are each suspended at different heights, as if they flow down Alameda Creek into the Bay.
This installation includes about 900 mouth-blown glass spheres in colors varying from vibrant green and bright yellow to golden topaz. The floral glass spheres are mounted on painted steel flower clusters.
Kaiser Permanente Union City Medical Offices, Union City CA
Glass and painted steel
17’ x 18’ x 66’
Goals
Since the entire building was going through the interior renovation, this suspended sculpture project was to replace the aged fabric banners to brighten the space and make the space more contemporary and uplifting. The site was two story high and 78 ft long with an entire upper west side to be the windows that bring daylight. The layout of the suspended pieces needed to offer the multiple viewing points with surprises, from the entrance hallway on the ground level, from the north end, and from the south end, then upstairs from the mezzanine, and lastly from the second floor north lounge area through the square window.