Client: Kaiser Permanente Medical Offices

Location: Union City, CA, United States

Completion date: 2020

Project Team

Project management

Beth Jones

Beth Jones Art Consultant

Client

Stephen K. Wong

Kaiser Permanente, National Facilities Services Greater Southern Alameda Area

Artist, designer and fabricator

Kana Tanaka

Kana Tanaka Art, Inc

Glass Fabrication

Glow Glass Studio

Metal Fabrication

Wyatt Studio, Inc.

Overview

Reminiscent of the wildflowers that line local hiking trails, this artwork was inspired by clusters of flowering yellow fennel growing alongside Alameda Creek. In the 78 foot long / two story high entry lobby, the series of 15 flower clusters are each suspended at different heights, as if they flow down Alameda Creek into the Bay.

This installation includes about 900 mouth-blown glass spheres in colors varying from vibrant green and bright yellow to golden topaz. The floral glass spheres are mounted on painted steel flower clusters.

Kaiser Permanente Union City Medical Offices, Union City CA
Glass and painted steel
17’ x 18’ x 66’

Goals

Since the entire building was going through the interior renovation, this suspended sculpture project was to replace the aged fabric banners to brighten the space and make the space more contemporary and uplifting. The site was two story high and 78 ft long with an entire upper west side to be the windows that bring daylight. The layout of the suspended pieces needed to offer the multiple viewing points with surprises, from the entrance hallway on the ground level, from the north end, and from the south end, then upstairs from the mezzanine, and lastly from the second floor north lounge area through the square window.