Client: John Muir Health Foundation in conjunction with The City of Walnut Creek

Location: Walnut Creek, CA, United States

Completion date: 2010

Artwork budget: $739,000

Project Team

Public Art Agent

City of Walnut Creek

Artist

Gordon Huether

Overview

Huether took inspiration for this installation from John Muir’s love for the mountains and rivers in the area. The glass and steel Mountain Range consists of two layers of glass and one layer of corten steel. Mountain Range is roughly the length of a football field and frames the entrance of the hospital. River of Light is inset into the pavement and glows an iridescent blue that sparkles in the sunlight. The river starts at the fountain, cuts through the mountain range and works its way to the main entrance of the hospital.

Goals

The artwork, inspired by nature supports the mission of John Muir Medical center by creating a sense of health and well-being.

Process

There was collaboration between the artist and the developer, Architect, Landscape Architects, Structural and Civil Engineer, City of Walnut Creek staff. The coordination consisted of planning and design collaboration, for regulatory planning and documentation, as well as structural, positioning, placement and installation of sculpture, which consist of steel and glass mountain ranges, and the embedded glass features in the paving.