Client: City of Astoria

Location: Astoria, OR, United States

Completion date: 2014

Artwork budget: $1,400,000

Project Team

Other

Suenn Ho

SUENN HO DESIGN | RESOLVE Architecture + Planning

Artist

Lynn Adamo

LYNN ADAMO FINE ART |ARCHITECTURAL INSTALLATIONS

Artist

Juno Lachman

JUNO ARCHITECTURAL GLASS, Inc.

Artist

Doug Metz

SPECIALTY METAL FABRICATORS

Artist

Shane Crunchie

HANSET STAINLESS, Inc.

Industry Resource

Rick Amodeo

AAI Engineering

Industry Resource

Nicholas Pennington

ROBINSON CONSTRUCTION

Industry Resource

Lun Chau

MLC Engineering

Artist

Tim McGourty

NW-Precast

Artist

Huo Bao Zhu

Yuan Kun Sculptual Art Co. Ltd.

Industry Resource

Denise Fong

Candela Lighting

Overview

Astoria, Oregon (population 10,000) has a rich history of settlement by many diverse ethnicities. Founded as a trading post in 1811, Astoria has never had a true town square. Eight years ago, the city realized it was remiss in acknowledging the contributions of Chinese immigrants to Astoria’s growth and development, so the City embarked on a project to create Heritage Square and the Garden of Surging Waves. All cities have stories to tell. The project team, led by urban designer Suenn Ho, sought to create an interpretive public plaza that tells of the immigrant Chinese experience.

Goals

For this interpretive urban space, design goals were rooted in the idea that sculptural art, in concert with architectural and landscape elements, can create a learning and contemplative environment. The design would episodically evoke the journey of immigrants from distant places to a new home and a new life. Equally important was the need to create a sense of community ownership of this first phase of Astoria’s town square. While acknowledging the Chinese immigrants that built the river walls and jetties, constructed the railroads, and worked the fish canneries, the Garden is telling a story of hardship and achievement that is shared by all Astorians.

Other goals included creating a balance between traditional Chinese art pieces (that connote traditional Eastern values) and more contemporary works. Similarly, a balance between custom artwork imported from China and works produced by local/regionally-based artisans was desired. In all cases, media/materials were selected to avoid maintenance issues and allow the art to age gracefully over time.

Process

Project designer Suenn Ho conceived each art piece. Artisan/fabricators were prequalified based on submitted portfolios. Working collaboratively, the designer and artisans developed technical solutions while safeguarding the intention that each art piece “contribute to the story.”
-- Story Screen/Moon Gate and Bronze Scrolls – connecting the immigrants’ stories to traditional cultural values [Corten/stainless steel, bronze]
-- Donor Screen – recognizing contributors from all ethnic heritages [stainless steel, colored glass blocks]
-- Timeline Benches – describing significant events in the centuries-long history of the Chinese in Astoria [precast concrete, cast bronze]
-- Pavilion of Transition – marking the moment in an immigrant’s journey where homeland and new land meet [marble columns, timber framing]
-- Sturgeon Mosaic and Salmon Lantern – recognizing Chinese-American contributions as cannery workers [mosaic tiles set in stainless steel ring; glass, stainless steel, LED lighting]
-- Ling Bi (Scholar) Rocks – symbolizing longevity [natural stone, imported from China]
-- Basalt Walls – representing the Chinese workers that built the protective jetties along the Columbia River [natural stone, locally sourced]
-- Platform of Heritage – enlarged replica of a Western Han Dynasty incense burner (204 BCE), “Children of the Mythical Dragon” [cast bronze]

Additional Information

This project would not have been possible without the constant and non-wavering support of the City authorities. The City’s empowerment of the advisory committee, the design team, and its own staff led to fundraising events, community involvement and the realization of an urban place created by art that tells the immigrant story.