New Public Art Commission
For the first half of 2018 I have been working on designing a new public art piece for a senior living center in the City of Avondale. After several art committee meetings, presentations, and many decisions, I have been approved for fabrication and will begin to make two large ceramic tile suns for the entrance of Solterra. These are the original colored pencil sketches I have been working from.
The final decision about which sun design to use is being debated right now.
Here are some samples of the test glaze tiles I have done so far.
Two 4.5 x 5.5 foot suns made of ceramic tile and framed in a metal backing will hang on both sides of the entrance trellis, each suspended between two sets of columns
Construction has begun!
The design I created was inspired by this quilt pattern called Mariner's Compass
The black spaces in the design will be negative space or holes that will allow natural light to flow through the artwork, create shadow patterns on the ground, and extend the design to the back of the piece.
Artist Statement
City of Avondale Public Art in Private Development
Solterra
Project, W. Van Buren St. between Central Ave. & Dysart Rd.
The Solterra Suns are designed with the craftsman style of the building
in mind. The architects and artist involved wish to bring a hand made ceramic
tile art piece to the entrance way of the facility that would be both
aesthetically pleasing and visually interesting for the public to view.
With this in mind, two
artistic panels will hang between the columns on the east and west side of the
driveway entrance. The panels will each be approximately 4.5’ x 5.5’ and made with
shades of yellow, orange, blue and bronze hand made ceramic tiles in an
abstract sun design. The inspiration for the design is based on a quilt design called
Mariner’s Compass. Each panel will be encased in a metal frame that is made
from steel and powder coated with a rust texture finish. Each panel will hang
with 4 diagonal 3” beams to secure it. The ceramic tile will face both sides of
the driveway, and the back of each panel will be the finished steel. Each panel
will have approximately 12 triangular holes cut through the design. These
holes, or negative space, will allow the back of the panels to have some of the
design elements from the front carry throughout the piece and also allow
natural light and shadows to play a part in the piece.
Artist: Heidi Dauphin
Architects: Orcutt-Winslow
Owners: Drive Development Partners, Bridgewater by Solterra
