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PREVIEW - AIRPORT PUBLIC ART |
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'Hands' rising at Airport
This month San José Public Art continues its preview of public art projects included in the expansion of the Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport.
Artist Christian Moeller is creating Hands, a mural of immense proportions for the Airport's new ConRAC Garage. The ConRAC Garage will house the rental car operations and is a key element of the San José Airport's terminal area improvements. It is prominently located on the east side of the airport and, at seven stories high and over 1200' long, it is one of the first and most visible elements of the airport that can be seen from the Guadalupe Freeway. Moeller's Hands will run the entire length and height of the ConRAC garage's east façade.
Artist's rendering of 'Hands' images.
The artwork is a large graphic of hands drawn from photos of raised hands. Moeller, an internationally-recognized artist and trained architect, transforms standard construction materials into compelling visual imagery. He has developed an art form that he calls "bitmap graphics" that uses mapping and plotting technologies familiar to Silicon Valley industry to create large-scale pixelated images.
Moeller's close collaboration with the architects allowed them to replace the standard pre-cast concrete façade with an architectural metal fabric that will integrate the pixelated image in panels along the façade. From a distance the artwork is seen as the image of many hands, but up close the hand images are composed of hundreds of thousands of durable plastic disks meticulously positioned along the 1200' expanse of metal mesh.
Detail of hand image.
 The images in the mural were drawn from photographs of the hands of 53 members of the San José-Silicon Valley community. They represent the diversity that typifies Silicon Valley in terms of ages, ethnicities, both native born and immigrant, and life experience  including people who work in the arts, police and fire, technology, agriculture, healthcare, aviation, service industries and much more. Details on the 'people behind the hands" and other artwork information will be included on a future web page for the project. Hands is scheduled for completion in July 2009.
Photos: Above right, a father and son pose for a Hands shot; above left, the photographer with a SJSU college student.
The Hands project underscores the Airport's Art + Technology Program and is an example of an innovative artwork that relies on both technology and the human hand in its realization. It is also an example of innovative partnerships that are the foundation of Silicon Valley success, in this case the collaboration between artist, architect, design builder, subcontractors, city and community. |
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PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE MEETING |
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Next Meeting: May 19, 2009 - 5:30 PM.
There is no meeting of the Public Art Committee in April 2009.
The next regularly scheduled Public Art Committee meeting is Tuesday, May 19 at 5:30 PM.
The Public Art Committee regularly meets in City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara Street, Room W-119 in the Council Wing. The meetings are open to the public.
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. |
SAVE THE DATE! JUNE 6 IS THE CATALYTIC KICK-OFF FOR SAN JOSE'S CULTURAL VISION PLAN
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Help shape the cultural vision for the San José General Plan Update
The City of San José's General Plan Update will include a Cultural Vision Plan. The Catalytic Kick-Off for the Cultural Vision Plan process is Saturday, June 6 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. This facilitated community meeting will be held in City Hall. The event is an opportunity for the community to help shape the cultural vision.
Please mark your calendars.
Details on how to attend will be included the May newsletter or you can e-mail publicart@sanjoseca.gov . | |
| PUBLIC EVENTS |
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Meetings, Dedications, Celebrations, Lectures, Exhibits & More
Current listings for April - May 2009 as of newsletter distribution
3rd Event in Leadership Series: Cultural Development as a Catalyst in Troubled Times
Keynote speaker Alan Brown, principal of WolfBrown, will address The Shifting Sands of Demand; discussion to follow.
DATE/TIME: Friday, May 1, 2009; 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
LOCATION: The City Council Chambers in San José City Hall, 200 East Santa Clara Street.
4th Event in Leadership Series: Cultural Development as a Catalyst in Troubled Times
Keynote speaker Jerry Yoshitomi will present From Transactions to Transformations: Revealing the Public Value of the Arts
DATE/TIME: Friday, May 15th, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
LOCATION: San José City Hall, 200 East Santa Clara Street in Council Wing Meeting Rooms 119/120.
ONGOING CITY & RELATED EXHIBITIONS
CITY WINDOWS GALLERY
BIKE SHOW: A CELEBRATION OF CYCLE ART & CULTURE
A free exhibit that explores the history and art of cycling, San José City Hall's City Windows Gallery, 4th & Santa Clara Streets, in Downtown San José
 The Bike Show is a range of expressions of the enthusiasm for bicycling found in the Silicon Valley environs, both historic and contemporary. From locally-made custom bicycles and finely-crafted bicycle parts to historic images and cycles demonstrating San Jose's long association with cycling, to more artful expressions of the sport. City Windows Gallery is located in the storefront space located along the 4th Street façade of City Hall. The exhibit is scheduled through June 2009.
CITY HALL EXHIBITION PROGRAM - 3 ONGOING 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 continues into Spring, 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 continues into Spring, 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.
SHOW YOUR STRIPES AT THE 88 IN DOWNTOWN
 While visiting downtown you can interact with Jim Conti's artwork Show Your Stripes at The 88, San José's new high rise residences at 88 E. San Fernando that enlivens downtown with its colorful and intriguing cascade of light patterns.
Call (408) 287-0128 after sundown. After you hear the tone, enter any three numbers, which can include # or *, from your telephone keypad, and then enter zero and hang-up. If the number sequence is programmed, then the colors should change in about 10 seconds. (Note: Not ALL 3 number combinations have been programmed yet, so if one you try doesn't work, please try another.) Some fun ones to try include *25 for Christmas, or *14 for Valentine's Day. |
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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 - Updated 2009 Edition Now Available!
The San José Public Art Program's colorful, informative map of public art projects in downtown San José has recently been updated. The 2009 Downtown Public Art Map is a fun and easy ways to see public in downtown San José.
Use it to 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 2009 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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