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Structural Engineering: What it is and How it Works

Have you ever stopped to marvel at the huge variety of buildings and structures we see all around us every day? Have you ever admired a piece of industrial city art? What goes into ensuring that houses, large art structures and bridges stay upright and in place? 

A structural engineer is at the center of the answer to these questions. Keep reading to discover the intricacies involved in doing this type of work and how it is utilized in the realm of public art.

What is a Structural Engineer?

A structural engineer is someone who has studied under the brand of civil engineering and has a deep understanding of the laws of physics, mathematics and design to develop the concepts that go into large structures. They often work alongside construction engineers, surveyors, architects and others to accomplish their vision. Understanding the key aspects of supportive structures and the intense amounts of load they carry is crucial. 

Structural engineers are experts at these key components and possess a large body of knowledge involving the details of a successful construction. This includes knowing the best types of materials to use and the proper shapes, sizes and dimensions that will best carry the load while maintaining structural integrity for many years to come.

Both Creative Designers and Problem-Solvers

To be successful in the field of structural design and engineering, you need to have equal strengths in creativity and problem-solving as the foundation of your learning. It’s essential to take into account the extreme conditions structures may undergo. These variables will play into the materials, shape and dimensions of a project, meaning a structural engineer needs to weigh the environment and other factors in their design.

Structural Engineering and Public Art

Now that you have a better understanding of what structural engineering is and how it works, you can better appreciate its role in developing public art. Encountering a piece of public art outside of a museum can feel like stumbling across a treasure in the middle of a busy downtown area. 

Public art is a breathtaking interruption to a busy commute or hurried walk to your next destination. The best form of public art is one that connects you to the city in which it is located. It tells a story, and it roots you into a better understanding of where you are and the significance of the area, its people, local history, culture and more. 

Structural engineering also uses public art to display work that reflects our contemporary culture. Although one of the main focuses of a piece of public art is its meaning, the use of creative imagination and the components to make it happen are nothing short of impressive. What’s the use of an amazing, creative idea with no viable plan to carry it out through structural engineering? The integrity of the structure and its artistic expression are inventive, bold and need a lot of talent and skill to pull it off. 

The next time you come across a display of public art, consider the many decisions that went into it to make it happen.

EG Structural Supports Better Diversity in the Arts

At EG Structural we have a passion for creating projects that inspire. We create timeless public art projects that embody the spirit of our clients and their community. Whether they’re a corporate entity or a municipality, we see what makes them special and design sculpture pieces that highlight their exceptionalism. 

If your organization is looking for a private commission sculpture piece or if you have questions about being more involved in public art, contact EG Structural today!

Diversity in Public Art: How Can It Bring a Community Together

In the last few years, issues surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion have become prominent talking points in our society. Its role in the business world and our communities cannot be overstated. Another area that it is impacting is the public art scene. 

EG Structural is on a mission to enrich communities with exciting large-scale art pieces that drive their economy and beautify their spaces. We’re founded on the principle that functional sculpture pieces can exhibit the incredible identity behind communities and commercial properties. Read our blog post below to learn how diversity in public art can bring communities together. 

Does Public Art Tell the Full Story of a City and the People Within It?

According to the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, a vast majority of artists, administrators, curators, writers, and commercial consumers are white. This can be due to a number of factors like the high cost of fine art degrees, lack of access to arts education and materials, and the lack of affordable rehearsal and living spaces. This problem exists because of institutional and structural barriers that make it virtually impossible for artists of color to enter and thrive in the arts.

So, does public art truly encompass everything about one’s community? It can. What distinguishes public art is the unique association of how it is made, where it is, and what it means. Public art can express community values, enhance our environment, transform a landscape, heighten our awareness, or question our assumptions.

By incorporating more minority voices and investing in art in areas where it is lacking, public art can hold a true reflection on how we view the world and the people who live in it. More than that, it influences people’s imagination, enables them to create their own voice, and promotes greater diversity. 

Public Art Can Bring Awareness to Social Issues like Diversity

Strategically executed public art can raise awareness toward issues plaguing the community. For centuries, people have been designing art that is a response to affairs happening around them. Today is no different; as you’ve seen from the Black Lives Matter movement, it’s spurred an endless stream of creative output that promotes diversity and inclusion. 

Moreover, it has had an incredible impact on the public by engaging community members in civic dialogue. Art can open our eyes to things we either never thought of or didn’t know were bigger than we thought. Its ability to promote a culturally-rich and all-inclusive environment should not be overlooked. 

Lead by Example With More Diversity in Public Art Works

Public art is crucial if you want to ensure your message for better diversity lives on beyond the protests and conversations. It cements your community as one that supports every resident no matter the color of their skin, religion, nationality, or sexual orientation. More than anything, art can inspire others to become allies and speak up in support of their friends, neighbors, and co-workers from historically marginalized groups.  

How Does One Get More Involved in Promoting Diversity in Public Art?

In order to make a change, you need to acknowledge that there is a problem. It’s important to learn and understand the implicit biases that show up in our society as individuals, organizations, and public policies. 

To better your public art community, you need to invest in programs that intentionally serve artists from underrepresented and under-invested areas. You need to address racial equity in the public art field by providing tools, resources, and opportunities to people of color. Not to mention looking for barriers in our public art programs and finding ways to make it easier to get into for artists. 

EG Structural Supports Better Diversity in the Arts

At EG Structural we have a passion for creating projects that inspire. We create timeless public art projects that embody the spirit of our clients and their community. Whether they’re a corporate entity or a municipality, we see what makes them special and design sculpture pieces that highlight their exceptionality. 

If your organization is looking for a private commission sculpture piece or if you have questions about being more involved in public art, contact EG Structural today!

Larger Than Life: Large-Scale Art That Resonates

A piece of large-scale art can change one’s environment drastically. It can have tremendous positive effects on many things for your community. This blog post is dedicated to informing you on how large sculpture pieces can draw people into a property. 

Whether you’re a community space or a company, we believe you have a story. At EG Structural, it is our mission to bring it to life. We’re founded on the principle that functional public art can exhibit the incredible identity behind the communities and commercial properties where they stand. Read our article below to learn how large-scale art resonates with your community.

Public Art Installations Create a Community Identity

Large-scale art is a powerful tool in creating a sense of community identity. It has the power to create a display that emphasizes everything unique to one’s home. Whether it honors your town’s history, people, culture, or geography, public art has a way of bringing out your community’s uniqueness. By adding installations that highlight the community’s rich history, it connects people towards a common landmark resulting in greater pride for where they live or grew up.

Large-Scale Art Can Test Human Perception and Introspection

As you probably well know, art has a tremendous impact on our mental and emotional state. It can evoke a strong response that oftentimes can leave us feeling happy, angry, sad, and even confused. When you amplify it by its sheer size, it can evoke even more feelings!

Investing in large-scale sculptures or monumental buildings has always been a good way to exercise power, to amaze, or sometimes simply to inspire. Big has been seen as equal to mighty. That is why statues and sculptures in ancient Greece and Rome were made to be larger than life, to emphasize the power and might of subjects like gods and heroes. 

Today is no different. We still get inspired by large sculpture pieces and we’re left in awe at the sheer craftsmanship to build such a structure. A skilled public artist will have the skills and knowledge needed to build a piece of public art that truly resonates.

Large-Scale Art Can Inspire Appreciation for the Arts

As mentioned, large-scale art installations can inspire awe, and draw out deep emotions like happiness, sadness, and anger. Additionally, it can satisfy our appetite for something beautiful and engaging. Art appreciation is in the details, the craftsmanship, the creative vision, and the execution of an idea. 

Well-executed public art reveals its meaning over time, influencing repeated visits and greater interest in communities. Additionally, it has the ability to beautify our shared environment and celebrate the things that make us great. Not everyone can visit an art museum or attend a gallery, but public art is for everyone.

EG Structural Are Creative Public Artists

At EG Structural we have a passion for creating projects that inspire. We create timeless public art projects that embody the spirit of our clients and their community. Whether they’re a corporate entity or a municipality, we see what makes them special and design an open-air sculpture piece that highlights their exceptionality. 

If your organization is looking for a private commission sculpture piece, contact EG Structural today and we’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible!

Zen and the Art of Custom Fabrication

Breathe in, breathe out. Finding your zen is more than just a few breathing exercises and finding peace within yourself. It’s about finding peace in the comforts of your surroundings. When it comes to public art, it has the power to bring a sense of ease to a community. But, to achieve it, you need a partner who handles custom fabrication. Why? Because many artists aren’t equipped with the technical skills to turn their big concepts into reality. In a way, fabricators are sculpture artists’ zen.

For over 25 years, EG Structural has been reimagining how communities engage with public art. We take pride in highlighting the best of one’s community through functional large-scale art installations. However, none of this would be possible without the hard work and dedication of the custom fabrication experts we partner with on our projects. This article is meant to highlight why they’re so vital in public art. 

Custom Fabrication Engineers Are the Answer to “How Will We Build This?”

We’ve all likely been there, we create a concept so big and proud that we have no idea how to bring it to life. For a public artist such as Eric Garcia, he encounters it all the time. Fortunately, we’ve worked with several professionals to help turn ideas into landmarks. 

When you partner with fabrication engineers, you’re provided with the support and knowledge needed to effectively build your idea. They’re simply paramount in the installation process as they’ll know how to situate your large-scale art securely and accurately with respect to the concept. 

What Do Custom Fabricators Do?

Metal fabrication contractors use manual tools alongside machinery to create metal objects or structures by bending, cutting, and assembling various metal materials. They work very closely with their clients on what they are looking for and determine the best course of action in how to achieve their vision. When working on our projects, custom fabrication experts will examine our conceptual designs and strategically figure out what needs to be done to craft its shape and scale. 

How Do Custom Fabrication Professionals Work With Public Artists?

According to The New York Times, “fabricating is a bit like producing a record; you are trying to enhance the artist’s vision, which is sometimes meticulously conceived and other times inchoate”. We’re artists, we don’t conceive our pieces with what materials we’ll use or how we’ll install them in mind. At least, not entirely. This is often an afterthought that isn’t considered until after conceptualization. 

The artist will work with the fabrication engineer in developing a strategy and brainstorm ways to bring the art to life. This involves determining the overall look and feel of the sculpture piece by figuring out what materials should be used to construct the piece. Some materials EG Structural has used in its large-scale art include:

  • Foam
  • Acrylics
  • Plaster
  • Steel
  • LED lighting
  • And much more

EG Structural Partners With the Best Custom Fabrication Engineers

At EG Structural we have a passion for creating projects that inspire. For over 25 years, Eric Garcia has provided strong conceptual design to develop timeless public art projects that embody the spirit of our clients. Whether they’re a corporate entity or a municipality, we see what makes them special and design a sculpture that highlights their exceptionality. 

If your organization is looking for a private commission sculpture piece, contact EG Structural today and we’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible!

What Exactly are Floating Sculptures?

The world of art is always full of surprises due to the incredible imagination of the artist. One type of art that is blowing the minds of art enthusiasts is floating sculptures. This type of art isn’t anything new, but the work people are doing is absolutely amazing.

Whether you’re a community space or a company, we believe you have a story. At EG Structural, it is our mission to bring it to life. We’re founded on the principle that functional public art can exhibit the incredible identity behind the communities and commercial properties where they stand. Read our article below to learn what exactly floating sculptures are and how they can be used to invigorate your community.

What Are Floating Sculptures?

Simply put, floating sculptures are pieces that defy gravity. They entrance the public in that they look like they’re literally floating in the air. Here are some examples of these sculpture pieces:

If you visit downtown Phoenix, you might find yourself at Civic Space Park where Janet Echelman’s Her Secret is Patience flies overhead. Often described as a giant jellyfish, the public art installation is a 100-foot tall sculpture made of high-tech netting suspended above the park. 

According to Arizona Republic art critic, Richard Nilsen, “The poles and guy wires disappear against the night sky and the jellyfish itself burns with the light that shines on it, revealing the colors that were lost against the brightness of the daytime sky. It loses all the sagging weight of daytime and instead floats weightlessly above the park, a ball of transcendence.”

Another example of a floating sculpture is Jerzy Kędziora’s work, where figures float above the ground, frozen in jumps, summersaults, and other acrobatic feats. Captured in athletic poses, in some cases upside down, the figures in his sculptures are often portrayed holding props such as a chair, ladder, or hoops. Yet rather than being purely about movement or exercise, Kędziora’s work is imbued with a deeper message about the nature of human life.

How Can These Sculpture Pieces Benefit Communities?

As public artists, it is our job to create designs that resonate and highlight the community’s rich history.  When installing a floating sculpture in your town, you are bringing a sense of identity to the area. Doing so results in a deeper pride from residents, and demands the attention of out-of-towners.

Additionally, installing these sculpture pieces has the potential to influence greater art appreciation. As you probably know, large-scale art installations can inspire awe, and draw out deep emotions from their viewers. It satisfies our appetite for something beautiful and engaging. It’s all about the details, the craftsmanship, creative vision, and execution of an idea. With these types of sculptures, you better believe we have these and then some.

We touched upon it a little bit previously, but public art installations have the power to attract tourism. One of the biggest things communities benefit from when installing open-air sculptures and other public art pieces is its ability to draw in tourists. We’re attracted to beauty and unique things. So, installing a piece that defies gravity can be one of the ways your town attracts visitors. 

EG Structural is Open For Public Art Commissions

At EG Structural we have a passion for creating projects that inspire. We create timeless public art projects that embody the spirit of our clients and their community. Whether they’re a corporate entity or a municipality, we see what makes them special and design an open-air sculpture piece that highlights their exceptionality. 

If your organization is looking for a private commission sculpture piece, contact EG Structural today and we’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible!

Captivating Public Art Installations Around the World

When you hear the words “public art,” you probably think of one of two things. First, historical landmarks commemorating a certain person or event that took place in your community. Or, you might picture big conceptual sculpture pieces that leave a lot to the imagination. Maybe you think of both? And you’d actually be right. But, art can take many different shapes and sizes to captivate the communities in which they’re located. 

Whether you’re a community space or a company, we believe you have a story. At EG Structural, it is our mission to bring it to life. We’re founded on the principle that functional public art can exhibit the incredible identity behind the communities and commercial properties where they stand. Read our article below to learn about the many installations that are gracing their communities. 

Public Art in Phoenix, Arizona: Her Secret Is Patience

If you visit downtown Phoenix, you might find yourself at Civic Space Park where Janet Echelman’s Her Secret is Patience flies overhead. Often described as a giant jellyfish, the public art installation is a 100-foot tall sculpture made of high-tech netting suspended above the park. 

According to Arizona Republic art critic, Richard Nilsen, “The poles and guy wires disappear against the night sky and the jellyfish itself burns with the light that shines on it, revealing the colors that were lost against the brightness of the daytime sky. It loses all the sagging weight of daytime and instead floats weightless above the park, a ball of transcendence.”

Public Art With a Purpose

Non-Violence, or The Knotted Gun, was created by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd and installed next to the United Nations in New York City. Reuterswärd created the sculpture piece after the assassination of John Lennon. It is an oversized Colt Python .357 Magnum revolver with its muzzle tied in a knot. It’s meant to symbolize an end to gun violence and enrich the consciousness of humanity by advocating for peace. 

Reuterswärd’s sculpture is an excellent example of how art can have a powerful message that resonates for years to come.

Fearless in New York City

Positioned in front of the famous Charging Bull statue within New York City’s Financial District. The statue represents a defiant, unapologetic statement against gender inequality.

European sculptor Kristen Visbal was commissioned to build the statue by investment firm State Street Global Advisors. The idea behind it was to put pressure on 787 all-male boards into adding more female members. Since its installation, it’s become a cultural icon that has been featured in countless publications, broadcasts, and more.

EG Structural is Proud to Create Large Scale Public Art

At EG Structural we have a passion for creating projects that inspire. We create timeless public art projects that embody the spirit of our clients and their community. Whether they’re a corporate entity or a municipality, we see what makes them special and design an open-air sculpture piece that highlights their exceptionality. 

If your organization is looking for a private commission sculpture piece, contact EG Structural today and we’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible!

3 Ways Public Art and Branding Go Hand-in-Hand

While many people may not realize it, art and branding go hand-in-hand. Consumers are very design-conscious and respond positively towards artistic-based communications. With a number of competitors fighting for their attention, having something to set you apart is key to your success. That’s where public art comes in.

Whether you’re a community space or a company, we believe you have a story. At EG Structural, it is our mission to bring it to life. We’re founded on the principle that functional public art can exhibit the incredible identity behind the communities and commercial properties where they stand. Read our article below to learn how art can help push your brand to the next level. 

Art is a Form of Communication

Communication is essential in attracting old and new customers by playing a role in highlighting the values of one’s products and company. When you incorporate the right art it can support the company’s corporate identity, history, values, and overall mission. Adding public art to your business brings another level of meaning to your brand. 

Public Art Installations Capture Company Culture

Looking to attract and retain employees? Public art is an excellent way to boost morale and beautify your corporate spaces. 

Last year, EG Structural had the pleasure of partnering with Hines Development on a private commission project to produce a sculpture for their new Phoenix office. They’re an incredible company with developments across the United States. They’re continuously growing and experienced in what they do. We wanted to capture that in our sculpture piece to highlight the company’s strong company culture.

EG Structural’s founder and artist, Eric Garcia, personally developed several designs that embodied the spirit of this wonderful organization. Finally, one design stuck out from the rest. One that incorporates elements of nature, motion, and growth in an 18×7 foot space to inspire those who see it. 

Eric used an assortment of mixed media for the commission project such as wood, styrofoam, paper mache, paper towels, acrylic, and plaster to construct a large tree with leaves falling from the branches. The tree symbolizes the idea of growth and stability, correlating with Hines’ experience and continued expansion.

Public Art and Marketing: Two Peas in a Pod 

According to Vadim Grigoryan, a marketer specializing in corporate art projects, “both art and marketing create images.” Art plays a significant role in influencing marketing and advertising across its many mediums. Look at Grigoryan’s Absolut Vodka campaign. He oversaw Absolut’s return to the art world after an absence of more than 10 years by arranging collaborations with prestigious artists from around the world. 

Today, Grigoryan teaches students how art engagement helps push a company’s branding even further. Some highlights include:

  • Creativity is the art of making unexpected connections and it cannot exist without understanding what’s going on in the world.
  • Implement the principles of citations. “Be a thief, a cocktail-maker,” he says, reminiscent of Picasso’s adage of “stealing” from other artists; find inspiration from the ideas around you.
  • Creating something radically new requires destruction. ”This sounds scary,” he acknowledges, “but you have to be ready to tear up old ideas.”
  • Don’t underestimate emotional appeal.
  • Anything can be art, anything can become media.

Elevate Your Branding With EG Structural

At EG Structural we have a passion for creating projects that inspire. For over 25 years, Eric Garcia has provided strong conceptual design to develop timeless public art projects that embody the spirit of our clients. Whether they’re a corporate entity or a municipality, we see what makes them special and design a sculpture that highlights their exceptionality. 

If your organization is looking for a private commission commercial sculpture piece, contact EG Structural today and we’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible!

Electrify Your Community with the Power of Public Art Installations

Being a part of a community is more than just having cool shops to go to and having a strong support system from local leaders. It’s about feeling like you’re a part of something bigger than yourself. When it comes to creating such a community, public art installations play a heavy role. While some people view public landmarks as a way to beautify spaces (they’re not wrong), art can be used to give life to the community identity. 

EG Structural is on a mission to enrich communities with exciting large-scale art installations that drive their economy and beautify their spaces. We’re founded on the principle that functional sculpture pieces can exhibit the incredible identity behind communities and commercial properties. Creating public landmarks has a tremendous effect on what makes our towns special – even when you don’t realize it. Read our blog post below and learn how public art installations can energize your community. 

Public Art Installations Create a Sense of Place

When it comes to creating a community identity, look no further than public art. It has the power to create a display that emphasizes everything unique to one’s home. Whether it honors the history, people, culture, or geography, art has a way of bringing out your community’s uniqueness.

As public artists, it is our job to create designs that resonate and highlight the community’s rich history. Doing so results in a deeper pride from residents and connects them with a common landmark.

Public Art Installations Create Appreciation for the Arts

As you may know, large-scale art installations can inspire awe, and draw out deep emotions like happiness, sadness, and anger. Additionally, it can satisfy our appetite for something beautiful and engaging. Art appreciation is in the details, the craftsmanship, the creative vision, and the execution of an idea. 

Well-executed public art reveals its meaning over time, influencing repeated visits and greater interest in communities. Additionally, it has the ability to beautify our shared environment and celebrate the things that make us great. Not everyone can visit an art museum or attend a gallery, but public art is for everyone.

Public Art Attracts Tourists and Grows the Economy

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the President’s Committee on the Arts, 35.3 million adults say art or a cultural related event influences their choice of destination. This creates a huge opportunity for municipalities to invest in public art installations to invigorate tourism in their cities. 

Once the public art piece is installed, communities can use innovative ways to encourage tourism towards their installations. Many cities are incorporating art walks, after-dark tours, and putting marketing towards their landmarks. Additionally, partnering up with local organizations creates unique opportunities for people to encounter art and engage with local businesses. 

EG Structural Creates Beloved Community Art Installations

One of the greatest things a municipality can do in its beautification initiative is to partner with an artist. EG Structural develops public art installations that embody what a community is about and attracts individuals to the landmark. Moreover, our work will grab the attention of out-of-towners and generate a new source of tourism dollars. We have a passion for public art, and fully believe it can set your city apart from the rest. Contact EG Structural today to learn how our founder and artist, Eric Garcia, can help beautify your city.

Empower Your Community With Public Art

Whether you’re interested in public art or not, it’s hard to ignore its effects on your community. It provides a high level of engagement for residents and tourists alike, not to mention it can be a powerful beautifying tool for public spaces. 

Whether you’re a community space or a company, we believe you have a story. At EG Structural, it is our mission to bring it to life. We’re founded on the principle that functional public art can exhibit the incredible identity behind the communities and commercial properties where they stand. Read our article below to learn how art can play an important role in enriching our communities.  

Public Art Promotes Interaction in Public Spaces

Public spaces provide many opportunities for people to meet and welcome their neighbors. One way city planners, architects, and city administrators are promoting social interaction is by creating spaces that offer a welcoming environment they can engage in. Oftentimes this involves enlisting the assistance of a public artist to collaborate with architects, landscape architects, engineers, and city planners in designing public spaces that resonate with the community.

Look at public art installations like The Cloud Gate in Chicago or the LOVE sculpture in Philadelphia. These installations are highly interactive in the fact that they attract locals and tourists to engage with them. If you ever visit these incredible sculpture pieces, you’ll see thousands of people a day taking photos of the art, tour guides explaining their meaning, and admiring its sheer magnificence. 

Public Art Has a Way of Connecting With The Youth

Another way public art installations play a critical role in our community’s empowerment is by connecting with the youth. Art has a way of engaging with them. In fact, it allows them to feel as though they are meaningful contributors in the social and economic aspects of community buildings.

An added benefit to this is how it brings more adults into the picture. Research in civic engagement by the League of Women Voters shows the factor most likely to get people more involved in their community is how it would improve conditions for the youth. 

Public Art is for Everyone

It comes as no surprise that public art is designed to be for everyone. It should be easily accessible to almost all community members and passersby. It enables people to experience art in their daily lives and drives people to engage with it. According to Americans for the Arts, it even encourages people to pay attention and perceive their environment more deeply. It’s also worth noting that public art stimulates learning and thoughts about our society and what it means to be a part of a community.

Collaboration Builds Stronger Art and Communities

An additional benefit to how public art empowers communities is how it promotes collaboration. When designing a public art piece, it typically involves the artist collaborating with many community members throughout the project’s development. This includes meeting with city officials, various architects, and holding town hall meetings with residents to gauge the level of interest towards ideas.

As a result, it builds a sense of shared ownership and collective connection to the sculpture piece. It becomes more than just a piece of art, it becomes a community energizer, something the community can feel proud to have. 

EG Structural Builds Art Installations That Resonate With Communities

EG Structural develops public art that embodies a community and attracts individuals to the landmark. Moreover, our work will grab the attention of out-of-towners and generate a new source of tourism dollars. We have a passion for public art, and fully believe it can set your city apart from the rest. Contact EG Structural today to learn how our founder and artist, Eric Garcia can help beautify your city.

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