Client: CITY OF FORT WORTH TEXAS

Overview

“Rising Strong” celebrates the community of Diamond Hill’s legacy. The concept is inspired by the cycles of a flower- planting a seed, setting roots, and growing a bountiful life. This tripartite form represents the power of family and community, and a commitment to the future. The “flowers” are inspired by the different cuts of a diamond gem. This project includes three 16 foot tall sculptures bound together with a center post on a bench high concrete platform at the Diamond Hill Community Center on NE 36th Street in Fort Worth, Texas. This sculpture can be viewed and appreciated from multiple directions as pedestrians approach the building entrance. Made of stainless steel, these three flower forms are low maintenance, and create a dialog with the colorful walls of the building. A grinder used as if it were a paint brush to etch a surface pattern on the stainless that heightens the reflective qualities of the metal, producing an eye catching effect on the work. This project is a landmark beacon where the community can gather together and rest.

Goals

>To construct a landmark for the Diamond Hill Community Center
>To erect a sculpture that compliments the newly built building
>To create a symbol that the community finds meaningful
>To build a durable, low maintenance sculpture at a high aesthetic caliber.

Process

This project is a collaboration between the artistic design work of Elizabeth Akamatsu, the structural engineering of R.L. Woods, and the fabrication expertise of Angelina Steel. Digital design by Idea House allowed this team to work together to make this vision a reality. With the help of Russ Connell Metalworks, the city of Fort Worth and its contractors, “Rising Strong” was installed at the entrance to the Diamond Hill Community Center, Fort Worth, Texas.