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Stuart S. Nakamura, Public Art
"Floating Worlds," Meydenbauer 2019Floating Worlds, 2017-2019, Meydenbauer Bay Park, Bellevue, WA: Bellevue Arts Commission/City of Bellevue Parks. A pair of Whaler oars on one end of the Promenade is a link to the past when whaling ships were docked at Meydenbauer Bay for refitting. Budget: $126,000. 11' x 6'x 4' 316 stainless steel, concrete, cast bronze | "Floating Worlds," pier, 2019Floating Worlds, 2017-2019, Meydenbauer Bay Park, Bellevue, WA: Bellevue Arts Commission/City of Bellevue Parks. Floating Pier long shot. This long shot of the floating pier from the Park’s Promenade shows the pile cap birds and the sundial and how these elements make use of the spatial qualities of the installation site. Out on the floating pier there is an undeniable sense of freedom that accompanies the panoramic view of the Bay, a sensation mimicking the act of flying. |
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"Floating Worlds," sundial, 2019Floating Worlds, 2017-2019, Meydenbauer Bay Park, Bellevue, WA: Bellevue Arts Commission/City of Bellevue Parks Floating Pier sundial. The sundial and the pile cap birds on the floating pier express a sense of liberty experienced by visitors when viewing land features from this vantage point. The sundial has stitch-cut birds that are illuminated at night. Inclusive of $126,000 budget. 4'8" x 28" x 28". 304 s/s and granite. | "Memory Vessel," Gig Harbor, 2014Memory Vessel, 2014, Gig Harbor, WA Gig Harbor Arts Commission Bogue Viewing Platform Gig Harbor. This stainless steel artwork is in recognition of and tribute to the Scandinavian heritage of the founders of this city. The vessel is a structural representation of the classic Gokstad Faering class of utility boats found in that region of Europe, and is adorned with iconic symbols found in Scandinavian artwork and crafts. Budget: $21,000. 7' x 4' x 4 1/2'. 316 s/s and concrete. |
"Na Kalai Ola," Kona, HI 2017Nā Kālai Ola (Life Voyagers), 2017, Innovations Public Charter School, Kailua-Kona, HI Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Nā Kālai Ola is about the art of navigating through Life’s challenges, whether as a student or as a navigator meeting the rigors of travelling on the oceans. The installation contains the center piece, a 9’ tall, stylized lobster claw sail pattern as used on traditional Hawaiian ocean voyaging canoes. $100,000, 316 s/s, granite, bronze, mosaic, concrete, stone. | "Na Kalai Ola," bronze star 2017Nā Kālai Ola (Life Voyagers), 2017, Innovations Public Charter School, Kailua-Kona, HI Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Cast bronze star inlays on eastern rim of pad locates direction on horizon where those stars will rise, as memorized by the navigators. Name of stars in English and Hawaiian. Inclusive of $100,000 budget. 3" diameter @ 12 units. Cast bronze. |
"Na Kalai Ola," Compass, 2017Nā Kālai Ola (Life Voyagers), 2017, Innovations Public Charter School, Kailua-Kona, HI Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Polynesian way-finding calls for great self-awareness and knowledge of the environment. While the ocean-going navigators used star patterns, the sun, and the moon to identify basic compass directions, the physical compass markers are for viewer interaction. Inclusive of $100,000 budget. 16” x 12” x 12”. Glass tile mosaic, concrete, and etched polished granite. | "Na Kalai Ola," mosaic inlay, 2017Nā Kālai Ola (Life Voyagers), 2017, Innovations Public Charter School, Kailua-Kona, HI Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. A half dozen small glass mosaic inlays of aquatic animals create areas of self-discovery for the children at the school and adds color accents to the concrete pad. Inclusive of $100,000 budget. 3" diameter, glass tile mosaic on concrete substrate. |
"River Reeds," 2013Taking its imagery inspiration from the nearby Green River in Kent, WA, "River Reeds" is a larger-than-life scale of the riparian habitat found near Sunnycrest Elementary School, where the artwork sits at its entrance. Standing 11' in height, the artwork allows students to imagine this environment as would an insect or reptile, to appreciate their world at their scale. Fabricated of stainless steel, concrete, and river stones. | "Origins of Coffee," 2005"Origins of Coffee" is placed at the Starbucks Headquarters south of downtown Seattle, and consists of a cast concrete harvesting basket and three glass tile mosaic pavement inlays. The cast bronze "lid" mimics the woven texture of traditional baskets and surrounds a glass tile global coffee growing region mosaic map; the pavement inlays depict basket patterns found in these growing regions. 58" x 20.5" x 15' radius; cast & stained concrete, cast bronze, glass tile mosaic. |
"Call and Response," 2008Placed at the entry plaza of Fire Station 10 in Seattle, WA, "Call and Response" makes a connection between the old facility and this new replacement by referencing the silhouette of the fire fighter's pose in the artwork of the original station. Though a more contemporary imagery, "Call and Response" retains the heritage and tradition of its predecessor while blending well with the new architecture in anticipation of the future. 8' x 15' x 20'; granite, stainless steel, natural stone paving. | "Reaching for the Sun," 2013As part of this HealthPoint Clinic's Donor Wall art, "Reaching for the Sun" references the nearby wetlands habitat of this Bothell, WA location. As a natural filter, the wetlands cleanses impurities it receives from its water sources, similar to the function and purpose of a health clinic in its community. The stems and bulbs twist their way upwards seeking sunlight within the open corridor of this stairwell. 12' x 4' x 4'; stained birch, stainless steel, steel, aluminum. |
"Reflections in the Dew," 2012"Reflections in the Dew" greets residents of this new apartment complex in this highly diverse cultural and economic sector of White Center, WA, just outside of Seattle. Standing 8' in height, this stylized Aspen leaf symbolizes the resilience and strength needed to meet the challenges of daily life, and the polished dew drops will reflect the changing faces of this community over the years. 8' x 4' x 4'; stainless steel, glass tile mosaic, concrete. | "Headstart Tree," 2004As part of over two dozen other art sites at this Kent, WA location, this tree column is placed at the entry of the Birch Creek Family Center's Headstart Classrooms, symbolizing growth and sustenance. Essentially constructed as a barrel stave out of birch this free-standing pillar greets children and parents and offers warmth, color, and texture to the piazza hallway. 9' x 4.5' x 4.5'; birch, aluminum, steel. |
"Textures of a Memory," 2007Depicting the numerous glacial floods of the last Ice Age, "Textures of a Memory" explores the geographical textures left behind in Eastern Washington State in this installation at Hanford High School, Richland, WA. Hollows in the ground, ragged cliffs, and velvet hills accompany a vision of stampeding horses which metaphorically suggests the textural sound made by the icy flood waters. This set of four mixed-media units is placed 20' above grade in the Commons area. 10' x 6' x 3' |
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