While visiting Sacramento in the end of September, during the lunch breaks of the 9th International Food Blogger Conference, I got a chance to walk in the city. Besides enjoying the weather and the walk itself, I enjoyed the public art displayed along the streets.
I was intrigued about the art I saw, so when I got home to Seattle, I did some research. According to the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission webpage, there is a collection of more than 650 artworks in public spaces throughout the city. What did I see from this impressive number? Only a fragment of it. Let me share with you the titles of the artwork and the names of the artists, in some cases a little more, illustrated with the pictures I took.
“Sacramento New Morning” by Alvin Loving. This piece (the featured image) is on the wall of the lobby of the Sacramento Convention Center. Acrylic on paper on plexiglas. I like the colors and the shape of this work.
It’s impossible to miss the concrete sculptures in front of the K Street entrance of the Convention Center. The twin fountain sculptures look like some ancient ruins and are placed in the middle of the street. “Time to Cast Away Stones” is the work of Sacramento artist Stephen Kaltenbach. The writing around the base of the sculptures says: “Where are we going. What have we thought. How are we loving. What have we wrought.” The title of the sculptures suggest that we should accept all the cultures and religions of history.
“La Familia” (The Family) by Eduardo Oropeza, from bronze and straw. The sculpture stands close to the K Street entrance to the Convention Center. Not far away, between the Convention Center and the Community Center Theatre is displayed an acrylic yellow painted fiber/steel foam sculpture, “Homie, Walking the Dogs,” Gilbert Lujan’s work.
“Peace.” Shaking hands sculpture, made from concrete. Another work by Stephen Kaltenbach near the Capitol Mall.
At terminal B of the Sacramento International Airport, a giant red aluminum and crushed glass rabbit greats us suspended from the ceiling by cables. “Leap” is the title. Artwork by Lawrence Argent.
I also discovered unique art on traffic utility boxes, designed by local artists. There are 28 utility boxes covered with art mainly in the Capitol Area, pieces of the Capitol Box Art Project. There is even a map to help to navigate your walking tour. The next eleven pictures showcase the art I saw.
1-2. “The Gift of the Dream” by Laura Caron
3. Mixed media art by Melissa Uroff
4. “Meta Mirror II” by Bryan Valenzuela
5-8. “Giant Orange,” “Night Rhythms,” “Figures Passing,” and “Toast” by Jim Piskoti
9. “Where does your food come from? De quién viene su comida” by Janine Mapurunga
10-11. “Statues and Lights” by Sam Sellers
And there were a few giant murals by Andrew Schoultz I noticed. Many murals are the result of the events called Sacramento Mural Festival and Wide Open Walls Festival.
Along the façade of a parking garage, I noticed the artpiece “Amaneceres de Sacramento” (Sunrises) created by Victor Mario Zaballa.
A visual delight all over the city, indeed.
This is the third of three posts I agreed to write to receive the reduced conference rate for the IFBC 2017.
I love it, thank you for showing these photos.
You are welcome, Kinga. Köszönöm a kommentet. Örülök, hogy neked is tetszenek a képek.
From a fellow IFBC attendee and infrequent visitor to Sacramento, thanks for the photographs of the public art. I like the “Homie, Walking the Dogs” statue, but didn’t understand the title until I read your post.
I was so focused on murals that I missed most of the art boxes that you photographed — on my next visit I will be sure to pay more attention to them (it’s time to make a map!).
Thank you Mark, for taking the time to comment on my post. I wish I would have known about the map of murals that you posted on your blog (in your post about Sacramento murals). I could have had a nice systematic walk to see more of them. I came across a few murals only accidentally. I also could have been seeing more art on utility boxes knowing about the map ahead of time. Definitely an interesting idea of presenting art.