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This was a particularly special project because it was located in the childhood stomping grounds of Andy Dufford, one of the founders of Artscapes. These parks were originally undeveloped land at the perimeter of the city. That wild history was the inspiration for these three contemplative seating areas located along Goldsmith Gulch.
The funds for this public art competition came from improvements to the gulch. This restoration included repairing the flow that allows the water to slow down and spread out to feed the wetlands. The call for entries asked the artist to consider ways to link three parks along the gulch, separated by distance and located in distinctly different neighborhoods. |
Our response is three seating areas, one in each park, connected by the trail system. At the entry of each park is a glyph consisting of three leaves. Each leaf contains an image: a crow, a cricket or the imprint of a deer's hooves. This glyph is the key that hints at the existence of all three spaces. As visitors continue through each park, they discover a trail marker with a single image, which signifies the character of that particular space. This stone marks a soft trail leading to a cut river boulder seat and lush plantings. Each area is sited to maximize the connection to the creek. The intention of these contemplative spaces is to restore a connection to the original wild character of the creek. |
