Client: City of Whittier, CA

Overview

Depicting a dynamic collection of children and dog at play. This design reflects on the setting and activities of the site; emphasizes positive interaction and speaks to multiple generations with universal appeal. One can either see themselves, a friend or family member in the artwork, and provides great opportunity for photo opportunities.

This sculpture speaks to a healthy lifestyle, community connection, and discovery of nature. The five children chase after a Retriever that has snatched one of the kid’s mitts as they race to a game or practice. Several children wear baseball caps and uniforms, one carries a bat. The existing trees in the planter provide natural spacing of the care-free running children. There is a balance of ages and genders depicted in the children. These added baseball features were added in wax prior to casting making the sculpture unique to Whittier.

“Freedom” exhibits the best of America’s pastime, camaraderie, sportsmanship and the pleasures of sun on your face and wind in your hair as you turn for home-plate. This placement shall echo the identity of this culturally rich and pulsating community and become an iconic image for York Field Sports Complex.

54″ x 15ft x 4ft ©2021 City of Whittier, CA commissioned for the York Field Sports Complex.

Goals

"Freedom" is a 1.25 life-size composition that was already in the works when the design team proposed it to the city's call. We thought it was ideal for the York Field Sports Complex as a dynamic collection of children at play. The design reflects on the setting and activities of the site; emphasizes positive interaction and speaks to multiple generations with universal appeal. One can either see themselves, a friend or family member in the artwork, and provides great opportunity for photo opportunities.

The five children are led by a Retriever-esque dog. The existing trees in the planter provide spacing of the care-free running children. There is a balance of ages and genders depicted in the sculpted children.

Because sport-specific detailing is important for this site, we were able to add baseball and softball gear to the composition in the wax-stage, making this casting unique for the city of Whittier. This included ball caps, gloves, balls and bats.

The planter provided the boundry of the artwork, the planter serves as a central gathering space within the sports complex. On one side is a field where baseball and softball is played, on the other is a playground. The composition plays off both of these activities, three kids ready to play ball, two ready for the swings.

Process

From the start of the design phase of this project our design team collaborated with the city of Whittier to make this public placement a success for all involved. We took care to create a piece that pulled from the dynamics of York Sports Park in a unique manner and worked within the allotted space to welcome visiters of the park and activate the space in a fun, family friendly sculpture. The artwork was to be designed to fit an existing planter that housed a number of trees. We worked with the city to ensure the sculptures footings would work within the planter and avoided damage to the established trees. Working with the committee as a team ensured a desirable addition to the site and its broader community. #SculptureIsATeamSport

Additional Information

Freedom without the sports theme added is available within a limited edition of 7 and can be purchased with a 6-8 month lead time for casting.