Client: City of Alexandria Parks and Recreation and Lardner/Klein Architects
Location: Alexandria, VA, United States
Completion date: 2018
Artwork budget: $120,000
Project Team
Artist
Carol May
May & Watkins Design
Artist
Tim Watkins
May & Watkins Design
Fabrication
John Franzen
May & Watkins Design
Senior Landscape Architect
Elisabeth Lardner
Lardner/Klein Landscape Architecture, P.C.
Landscape Architect
Cara Smith
Lardner/Klein Landscape Architecture, P.C.
Liaison with all stakeholders and community
Diane Ruggiero
Deputy Director Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities Department
Overview
This project was an opportunity to bring art and play together. We created a sculpture that functions as an overlook, and that children and adults can climb on and under. We also created two complementary mosaic sculptures and a decorative entrance gate. This suite of sculptures is a Signature Piece that defines the new entrance to Simpson Park.
Goals
In the new Simpson Park design, the entrance leads directly to the playground, so it was essential that the public art sculpture serve as an attractive, inclusive signature sculpture, as well as a playground element for the children.
Our installation includes four sculptures that greet the viewer as he/she enters the Park, the climb on play structure, two concrete and mosaic sculptures and a colorful decorative gate.
Process
We worked with the City Parks and Public Art team to develop this suite of sculptures. Our initial charette with the community made it clear that we needed to design a piece that was more than a free-standing sculpture. The community wanted an installation that included play.