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Artists propose public designs
By MICHELE LEUNG
With ideas ranging from abstract to concrete, on March 28, artists presented Cupertino Fine Arts Commissioners with proposals for the planned $150,000 public art display. Four artists explained their concepts and unique designs for the Four Seasons Plaza project.
The project will stand at the corner of DeAnza and Stevens Creek Boulevards, where a new hotel and apartment buildings are also slated for construction. Members of the public will have a chance to voice their opinions on pieces they would like to see erected. Armed with models and slides, artists showed their ideas to planners and art commissioners.
Roger Berry of Clarksburg, near Sacramento, took the name "Four Seasons" literally, with a design incorporating four spheres to represent the seasons. Berry would place the spheres at the four poles of a compass rose, with the change in solar position during the year casting different shadows on the spheres. Berry hopes that visitors would notice the change in shadow play on his sculpture with the different seasons.
"This isn't science at all," he said. "This is something you pick up when you go time after time. You'll remember what the sculpture looked like when you went to that spring concert."
Artist Richard Deutsch's sculpture combines Cupertino's past and present. Deutsch proposed a giant, tipped silo as a tribute to agricultural history, and an abacus to reflect the high-tech companies that now call Cupertino home. Deutsch, who hails from Santa Cruz county, calls the abacus the first "digital machine."
The proposed sculpture would tower over the trees and lamp posts, rising to 25 feet at its highest point. "I felt the need to bring the sculpture up so it can be seen from a distance. I want to make it feel like the heart of the city," he said.
The third idea, from artists Steve Gillman and Katherine Keefer of Oakland, is a simple and subtle design through the placement of several raised lawn squares in the park. Gillman and Keefer would arrange their layout to allow observers glimpses of the 16-foot square lawn tiles through the trees as they are driving. The artists said their design would naturally lend itself to events in the park, with the squares serving as seating.
The final proposal from Scott Donahue centered on the theme of Cupertino as a family community, with residents from all over the world. Donahue's sculptures would be twice life size and include a mother, father and a child learning to walk. The sculptures would be made of composite parts that represent items from different cultures and times.
"There would be slacks from Cupertino, circa 2000, and an exoskeleton, circa 2050. This is a hairdo from Shanghai from the 1820s," said the Emeryville artist, pointing to his model. "I want this to be universal for all time."
All the artists' models will soon be encased in Plexiglas so the public can view them at the library. Pictures will also be available on-line at the city's web site, www.cupertino.org. City residents are encouraged to write or email their comments.
The Fine Arts Commission will compile the remarks in their staff report and make their presentation to the City Council, which will make the final decision. The review period ends May 18.
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Cupertino, California Since 1947
