Client: City of Allen
Location: Allen, TX, United States
Completion date: 2018
Artwork budget: $135,000
Project Team
Artist
Carol May
May & Watkins Design
Artist
Tim Watkins
May & Watkins Design
Park Planning & Development Manager
Matt McComb
City of Allen, Parks and Recreation Dept
Overview
We were chosen by the City of Allen to develop sculptural work for the first stage of a new athletic park. Spirit Park project consists of 13 sculptural elements up to 14-feet and an array of signage. The sculptures include 2 benches, 4 free standing sculptures, 2 sculptures with signage, 4 bike racks, and 4 bas relief wall units.
Goals
The goal was to create themed work for the entrance to the ball fields and for the playground of the park. The initial thought was a single large scale piece, but it quickly developed into a series of smaller scale sculptures sited throughout the park.
Process
We worked with the community and city planners to develop, refine and ultimately site the work. With them, we developed a series of pieces that referenced the flora of Allen, Texas.
Additional Information
One of the main plants we focused on was the red hot poker because the petals of these flowers lent themselves so well to visual translation using aluminum baseball bats. And what better fit for an area with four baseball fields!