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PUBLIC ART LIGHTS UP DOWNTOWN |
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Artworks animate buildings, enliven streetscapes
Several public artworks animate downtown San José with light, adding notes of color and surprise.
San José Semaphore, created by Ben Rubin, is a multisensory kinetic artwork that illuminates the San José skyline. Atop the Adobe Systems Almaden Tower on Almaden Avenue, the artwork consists of four 10-foot-wide illuminated disks created with 24,000 Luxeon LEDs (donated by Philips Lumileds in San José.)
 San José Semaphore is a meditation on the coded nature of communication. Like the 18th century semaphores, the artwork's illuminated disks use distinct positioning as a method of communication. Each one can rotate to four positions, creating a vocabulary of 256 possible combinations. The disks rotate every eight seconds, engaging viewers with a glowing and purposefully moving presence on the San José skyline while also transmitting a coded message that is intended to be deciphered. Community members already decoded the first message. Adding an element of surprise, the disks react to airplanes passing overhead by spinning rapidly and then returning to their normal mode. More information about San José Semaphore can be found at www.sanjosesemaphore.org. San José Semaphore was commissioned by Adobe Systems in collaboration with the San José Public Art Program.
Another artwork that adds light, color and texture to the evening streetscape is Cork Marcheschi's Echo. Located in the multi-story parking facility at 4th and San Fernando, Echo engages the building as an architectural light sculpture. The perforated metal scrim on the San Fernando St. façade of the facility by day appears as a solid reflective surface. At night, 24 three-foot squares of  neon light create a wall of subtly shifting patterns that change color and slowly fade, appreaing to float on the building. The vertical spaces of the elevator towers read as monolithic columns of light in three colors. As one color slowly dims, another color is brought up in intensity to fill that volume of space. The lit elevators are visible, traveling through the volume of color. Headlights from automobiles become part of the composition, projected on the inside of the building façade, they animate the space between the elevator towers.
Another permanent artwork in light has begun casting its glow in downtown. When enjoying the upcoming holiday festivites in downtown, be sure to look at The 88, the new high rise residence tower on San Fernando and 2nd Streets. The 88 features Show Your Stripes by Jim Conti, an artwork of vertical light elements on the 2nd Street corner of the building with some surprise features that we will share with you in future issues of San José Public Art.
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| PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE MEETING |
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Next Meeting: November 18, 2008 - 5:30 PM.
The Public Art Committee 's regular monthly meeting is Tuesday, November 18 at 5:30 PM. Please note that this month only the room is changed to W-118. The following action and discussion items are on the meeting agenda:
- Calabazas Branch Library: Review and take action on a recommendation to approve the concept and schematic design proposal for a public art project by the Living Lenses artist team for the Calabazas Branch Library. (Council District 1)
- Educational Park Branch Library: Review and take action on the Design Development proposal for a public art project for the Educational Park Branch Library, and recommend that the City Council direct the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Catharine Wagner to fabricate and install an artwork in an amount not to exceed $162,000. (Council District 4)
The Public Art Committee, a sub-committee of the Arts Commission, is advisory to the Commission and to San José City Council. The Public Art Committee monitors and provides oversight in the artist selection, development and design review of public art projects throughout the City.
The Public Art Committee meeting is in City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara Street. This month's meeting is in Council Wing Room W-118. The meeting is open to the public.
To view a printable copy of the full, detailed meeting agenda and related documents, please go to: www.sanjoseculture.org |
| LAST 2008 SAN JOSE PUBLIC ART BUS TOUR! |
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| Limited seats remaining - Sign up now!
As announced in the previous issue, the final 2008 San José Public Art Program Public Art Bus Tour will take place in early December, scheduled in conjunction with the monthly "1st Friday" civic celebration of art in San José, as follows:
Friday, December 5: A tour of selected public art projects in south and eastern San José. Time: 1:30 - 5:30 PM.
The tour is free, but seats are limited and are available on a "first come" basis.
Please put "Public Art Tour" in the Subject line of your e-mail and, in your e-mail, please tell us your name and phone number. | |
| PUBLIC EVENTS |
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Meetings, Dedications, Celebrations, Lectures, Exhibits & More
Current listings for November-December as of newsletter distribution
NOVEMBER 2008
NOTE: SHOW YOUR STRIPES ARTWORK DEDICATION EVENT POSTPONED.
The dedication of SHOW YOUR STRIPES, a new artwork by Jim Conti at The 88, downtown San José's new luxury residential highrise at S. 2nd and San Fernando Streets that was announced previously announced as scheduled for Wednesday, November 19 has been postponed. Please watch future issues of San Jose Public Art for when this event is rescheduled.
GREAT SPEAKER SERIES: "Creative Time: How Artists Enrich Public Space" featuring Ann Pasternak, president and creative director, Creative Time
Anne Pasternak has been the Executive Director of Creative Time since 1994. Recent projects that continue to resonate in the art community and beyond including Tribute in Light - two beacons of light in Lower Manhattan following 9/11 and 59th Minute - a collaboration with Panasonic for the presentation of video work in Times Square. Pasternak is committed to initiating projects that give artists the opportunity to innovate their practice and reflect on contemporary society while engaging millions of people with art that permeates everyday urban life. Creative Time derives its values from a historic impetus to foster artistic experimentation, enrich public space and the everyday experience, and forefront artists as key contributors to democratic society. Ms. Pasternak will speak about the role that artists can play in reframing people's everyday experiences of their surroundings, the importance of having artists involved in the dialogue regarding enriching public space, and the benefit to artists of providing opportunities for visual dialogue with the public.
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DATE/TIME: Monday, December 1, 6:00 - 7:00 PM.
LOCATION: San José Repertory Theater, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San José, 95113.
(Great Speaker Series events are free, but it is necessary to reserve a free ticket. Go to www.1stact.org for more information on free tickets and on the Great Speakers Series.)
GRAND OPENING - FIRE STATION #17 featuring
The Fuel Tank, an artwork by Gordon Huether
that brings together a mirror-polished aluminum recycled jet fuel tank and pieces of dichroic glass to create a 20' sculpture that suggests a cool, abstracted flame. (For more artwork details, please see the October issue of San Jose Public Art, which featured this project. The link to the archived October issue is in Quick Links in the left column, above.)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, December 4, 3:00 - 4:00 PM
LOCATION: 5170 Coniston Way at Blossom Hill Road, San José 95118.
2008 SAN JOSE PUBLIC ART BUS TOUR #2 - SELECTED EASTSIDE AREA PROJECTS
DATE/TIME: Friday, December 5, 1:30 - 5:30 PM
LOCATION: A free bus tour, but reservations are required. Seating is limited. Please see the article above for more details.
GRAND OPENING - ROOSEVELT COMMUNITY CENTER
featuring an external public art project by Jackie Brookner and interior projects by Scape Martinez.
Don't miss the exciting Grand Opening of San José's newest community center. Highlights of the public art include a project by artist Jackie Brookener that was created in consultation with the City's Environmental Services Division and helps to filter storm water from the facility's roof. Scape Martinez, a San Jose-based urban artist has enlivened the building's interior with mural and sculpture work. DATE/TIME: Saturday, December 13; the Grand Opening Program is at 11:00 AM; other site activities ongoing throughout the day.
LOCATION: 901 East Santa Clara Street, San José, 95116
Free. Please join us. Everyone is welcome!
For additional art activities that you can enjoy in November and December, please see "ONGOING EXHIBTIONS" listings, below.
ONGOING EXHIBITIONS
CITY WINDOWS GALLERY
OUT OF THE FIRE, in City Windows Gallery, the exhibit space located in the windows along the S. 4th Street façade of City Hall . Out of the Fire features the work of artists from the Bay Area Glass Institute in San José. Curated by Kathryn Funk. On display through December 1.
CITY HALL EXHIBITION PROGRAM - 3 NEW EXHIBITS
SPEED CITY - FROM CIVIL RIGHTS TO BLACK POWER: an exhibition presented in conjunction with History San José that presents a broad view of context of the runners, their lives and their controversial actions during the 1968 Olympics, curated by Urla Hill. On exhibit in the Council Wing 1st Floor Corridor Gallery through March 30, 2009.
SHIFTING PERSPECTIVES - PUBLIC ART IN SAN JOSE: An exhibition highlighting a range of aspects of public art in San José, many of which are usually not seen. On exhibit in the City Hall Tower Foyer Gallery through February 2009.
POSTCARDS FROM LAKE CUNNINGHAM: Vintage images from a beloved historic San José location, on display in the 18th Floor Lobby Gallery (Tower) through July 2009.
WHO'S ON 1ST/WHAT'S ON 2ND: Profiled in the June '08 Special Edition of SJ Public Art News, some of the temporary exhibitions in Who's On 1st/What's On 2nd continue thru the Fall/early Winter along the Downtown San José Transit Mall:
Hector Dio Mendoza's Cultural Citizen multimedia project explores what it means to be a "cultural citizen" in San José. The work includes a website, posters and banners along 1st & 2nd Streets. A major new element, the "Cultural Citizen Tree" was installed in St. James Park in July, 2008. For more information and inter-active elements of the project go to the Cultural Citizen website at www.culturalcitizen.org. Ongoing through the year's end.
Bill Fontana's Sonic Cascades broadcasts the live sounds of the bells of Trinity Cathedral, 81 N. 2nd, creating a sound sculpture that interacts with the urban landscape. It can be heard along N. Second Street and features combination of some traditional bell music and minimalist composition by Fontana. Sonic Cascades will be featured on a continuing basis.
JD Beltran's Downtown Mirror features four video projections within storefronts and building windows reflecting both the local environment and the rich demographic and historical atmosphere of the downtown. Text from recent interviews and historic texts are superimposed on the videos revealing a fascinating time-spanning portrait of the downtown. Continuing thru the end of the year, Downtown Mirror video projections can be viewed in the following locations: in two storefront windows adjacent to Zanotto's at The Globe Residential Community located at 25 S. 3rd Street, at 38 2nd Street, and in a small storefront window on the Paseo De San Antonio, adjacent to Camera 12 Cinemas.
Please go to www.w1w2.org for more details about these projects. |
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TWO FUN WAYS TO EXPLORE PUBLIC ART IN DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE |
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Create your own walking tour!
Here are two ways you can enjoy public art in Downtown San José.
DOWNTOWN PUBLIC ART MAP
The San José Public Art Program publishes a colorful, informative map of public art projects in downtown San José. The Downtown Public Art Map is a fun and easy ways to see public in downtown San José. You can create your own walking tour and include opportunities to stop and enjoy other features in the district including museums, galleries and restaurants.
RECOLECCIONES: THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. LIBRARY PUBLIC ART COLLECTION
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library includes an award-winning collection of more than 34 site-specific public artworks in locations throughout the library. Finding them is a process of exploration, discovery and is filled with surprises! A free colorful detailed brochure is available from the San José Public Art Program that will help you appreciate this extraordinary collection.
You can request a free copy of the Downtown Public Art Map or the Recolecciones - Library Art Collection brochure. Please e-mail your request to publicart@sanjoseca.gov, and include your mailing address.
You can also access a printable pdf version of the Downtown Public Art Map on the Public Art webpage of the Office of Cultural Affairs website at San Jose Downtown Public Art Map. |
| MISS AN ISSUE OF SAN JOSE PUBLIC ART? FIND IT NOW ONLINE! |
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Visit the online archive to view past issues!
Current and past issues of San Jose Public Art can now be viewed on the Office of Cultural Affairs website on the Public Art webpages.
Go to www.sanjoseculture.org. |
| MORE TO COME IN SAN JOSE PUBLIC ART! |
San José Public Art is the way to keep connected and informed. Please stay with us for future editions.
We welcome your comments, ideas and suggestions. You can e-mail us at publicart@sanjoseca.gov.
Please forward this to people you know who might like to keep informed about public art in San José.
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