Monthly Archives: EG Structural
A public art piece in downtown Phoenix, Arizona

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!

EG Structural's Private Commission sculpture for Hine's Development

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!

A lit up outdoor public art installation

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.

a large public art display on a plaza in Milwaukee

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.

EG Structural's Eric Garcia standing in front of his Tulsa Route 66 sign

Concepts to Design: How Eric Garcia Turns Ideas into Public Art

The foundation of every large-scale art project is the desire to tell a story. That’s what every public artist strives to do in every one of their projects. Eric Garcia, EG Structural’s founder and artist, believes creating large-scale art pieces is a truly rewarding experience, especially for communities who invest in installations to beautify their properties. 

EG Structural constructs public art installations that invoke a response. We capture the unique qualities of a community and memorialize them through fine art. In partnership with custom fabrication professionals, Eric is happy to highlight your identity with an intricate design. Learn how he brings ideas and concepts to life through attractive installation pieces. 

Everything Begins with Planning

Just like with any art piece, planning ensures the project goes off without a hitch. It is during this stage that EG identifies key components of your brand and what exactly you are looking for in your large-scale art commission. 

We conduct extensive research into your brand; looking into your history, location, local amenities, and other unique characteristics of your community. Once we compile these details, we hand them off to Eric to work his magic.

It’s not uncommon for us to have a concept already in mind for certain projects. But to truly connect with your brand, we use our research to help us add elements associated with your community. 

Eric Garcia Understands Proportion and Scale

One of the basic principles of constructing sculpture pieces is utilizing proportions and size. Sometimes it’s necessary to adapt the proportions of the piece to suit its position to the viewer. Imagine looking at a sculpture high on a building. The piece will likely be made large on the upper part of the structure to ensure it reduces foreshortening.

Additionally, the scale of the sculpture needs to be considered in relation to its surroundings. When it’s located inside a building, it needs to fit the area it resides in. When it comes to open-air sculptures (art installations that are located outside), you need to take into account that they’ll appear less massive than in the studio.

Once We Have Something Conceptualized, Eric Will Seek Feedback

After Eric has finished conceptualizing the art installation, he’ll present it to you and your community to gauge if it fits what you are looking for. This is extremely important to us, as we strive to create public art pieces that resonate with everyone. So, every bit of feedback helps create something worthwhile for you.

For example, when we were creating our Roswell, New Mexico signs, we heavily encouraged city officials and residents to give us their opinion during town hall meetings. Because of this, we were able to identify elements that needed tweaking and gain a better understanding of what people would like to see as they enter the town. This allowed us to create something that would truly resonate with anyone who stops to admire the Welcome signs. 

EG Structural is Open for Corporate and Government Commission Projects

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!

A fabrication professional metalworking a piece for a public art display

What is the Difference Between Welding and Fabrication?

If you’re even remotely involved in the metalworking industry, you often hear terms like welding and fabrication. Many people use them interchangeably, but there’s actually a bit of a difference between the two areas of metalwork. But, what exactly are those differences?

EG Structural is looking to change how people perceive public art by creating incredible art installations and brand identities that excite the public. However, our mission would amount to nothing without the strong expertise of the custom fabrication professionals we partner with. Read our blog post below to learn what exactly is the difference between welding and fabrication.

What Exactly is Welding?

Welding is a process by which two or more parts are fused together using heat, pressure, or both to join the pieces as they cool. Welding is usually used on metals and thermoplastics, but can also be used on wood. 

Some materials require the use of specific processes and techniques, especially for certain tasks.

  • Joining metals: Involves heating parts at high temperatures to form a pool of molten material that cools as it connects to another piece of metal.
  • Joining plastics: Plastic welding also involves heating the materials to join them together.
  • Joining wood: But, wood welding uses heat generated from friction to join materials together. These materials are subjected to a great deal of pressure before a linear friction movement creates heat to bond pieces together. 

But, What is Fabrication?

Metal fabrication is a broad term that encompasses the entire process of building anything from raw metal materials. This means everything from cutting and shaping to the final assembly. But, to create a piece that meets your structural needs, you need custom fabrication services to truly make it your own.

We’re not exaggerating when saying that they can pretty much create anything. Whether you’re looking to build beautiful railings for your staircase or construction equipment parts for your project, it’s the right solution for the job. Custom fabrication professionals can stretch metal materials to meet the dimensions of your project. Additionally, they can use sectional metals such as I-beams, Z shapes, hollow structural sections, and bars and rods for each unique project. 

So, What’s the Difference Between Welding and Custom Fabrication?

The biggest difference between the two involves what tools and processes are used in these activities. For example, metal fabrication often involves tools you wouldn’t see welders use like:

  • Abrasives
  • Adjustable wrenches
  • Benders
  • Chipping hammers
  • Consumable electrodes
  • Cylinders with custom carts
  • Electrode holders
  • Hand file
  • Soapstone
  • Tungsten inert gas (TIG) consumables
  • Vice and vice grips
  • Welding clamps 

While welding is a metal forming technique and goes hand-in-hand with fabrication, they use similar processes to assemble and bend materials. However, metal fabrication is an overarching process and involves many different procedures to create custom metalworks, such as:

  • Die-cutting
  • Finishing
  • Hydroforming
  • Roll forming
  • Shrinking
  • Spinning
  • Stamping
  • Stretching

EG Structural Works with Industry Professionals to Create Public Art Installations

EG Structural is fortunate to have partnered with several wonderful individuals to design public art that highlights their unique communities. We combine intense research, strong conceptual design, custom fabrication, and engineering expertise to develop landmarks that inspire engagement. We help build an identity that exhibits what it means to be a part of a community. 

Contact us today to learn about our expertise and how we can help boost your identity.

A public art christmas tree in budapest made out of wooden sleighs

Make Your Holiday Event Jolly with Public Art

Holidays are a time where people come together to celebrate and cherish each other’s company. Public art is a form of artistic expression that also brings people together, but is there a way you can combine the jolly of the holidays and the beauty of art? We sure think so.

At EG Structural, we believe art brings people together. A well-designed piece can bring out what is truly unique about your community and generate a lot of interest from enthusiasts from out of town. Don’t believe us? Read our article below and learn how public art can elevate your holiday experience.

What Exactly is Public Art?

Public art is an incredible economic innovator that generates excitement towards one’s community. It encompasses a wide variety of creative expressions that bring people together through dazzling construction and detail.  It plays a very important role in bringing a community together by attracting them towards its specific location.

That is why you often see public art installations in places like parks, common buildings, residential areas, and retail properties. It attracts people to these areas to promote greater engagement in the areas they’re located in.

Public Art Creates a Sense of Place and Belonging

One of the most important aspects of the holidays is feeling connected with those around you. Art installations have the power to do just that by instilling a sense of wonder and belonging across the community. It acts as a landmark for people looking to experience something beautiful around the holidays to get in the spirit or elevate their holiday experience.

How Does Public Art Correlate With the Holidays?

Remember those times your parents brought you to a tree lighting ceremony or some sort of festival of lights? That’s a community unifier. Public art can play a significant role in enhancing these holiday events by allowing creative minds to develop exciting concepts.

Probably the most apparent example is how artists are reimagining the Christmas tree. Some examples include:

  • A tree comprised of nearly 5,000 wooden logs
  • A tree in Switzerland that’s lit by LED lights whenever a passerby hits a button to make a wish
  • One made entirely of 2,000 disposable bags to create an 18’ tall tree
  • In 2007, Madrid residents were wowed by a Pac-Man tree, which was adorned with the game’s board, ghosts, and circular hero

EG Structural Believes Art Brings People Together

EG Structural develops public art installations that embody a community and attract 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.

EG Structural's Tulsa 66 Rising Art Piece in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Why Are Cities Adding Art Pieces Into Their Community?

Public art is an incredible economic innovator that generates excitement towards one’s community. It encompasses a wide variety of creative expressions that brings people together through dazzling construction and detail. While some people view art pieces as a way to beautify spaces, art can be used to initiate civic dialogue and give life to the community identity. Installing a large-scale art piece can be a challenging task, but its results can be very lucrative for your community.

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 and learn why cities and towns are investing in public art for their communities. 

Large-Scale Art Pieces Create a Community Identity

Whether you are looking at their history, people, culture, or geography, every community is unique. 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 demands the attention of out-of-towners.

Look at EG Structural’s Tulsa, Oklahoma Route 66 landmark. It encompasses the city’s rich history along the Mother Road by showcasing its grandeur through sheer size and structural innovation. During the development of this project, we conducted extensive research into the town’s history with Route 66 and worked closely with local community members to conceptualize the city’s identity. 

Public Art Pieces Enhance Appreciation for Art

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

Well-executed public art reveals its meaning over time, influencing repeated visits and creating more interest in the communities they’re located in. Additionally, it has the ability to beautify our shared environment and celebrate the things that make the area great. It’s our job as artists to create a space that everyone is welcome to experience. 

Public Art Brings Awareness to Social Issues

Strategically executed public art can raise awareness towards issues plaguing the community. For centuries, people have been designing art that is a response to affairs happening around them. Today is no different; many artists are expressing their frustrations through art. Moreover, it has an astounding effect on the public by engaging them in civic dialogue.

EG Structural is on a Mission to Beautify Your Community

EG Structural develops public art that embody a community and attract 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.

EG Structural sculpture piece conceptual design

What Goes Into Making Exciting Sculpture Pieces?

Being a part of the public art process is one of the most exciting, rewarding things an artist can do. It helps beautify and unite communities by developing sculpture pieces that represent the soul of a city. 

At EG Structural, we’ve assisted municipalities in developing large-scale art sculptures that become a part of their beautification plan and a part of their identity. Here is what we’ve seen with the projects that we’ve been a part of. Read our blog post below to learn what exactly goes into creating these large-scale art pieces.

Figuring Out What Sculpture Pieces You Might Want

The first step on your public art journey is figuring out what exactly you want. When we work with clients, we typically ask them questions about what they had in mind. Then we conduct our own research about their community to understand the true soul of their identity. Additionally, it’s important to figure out what kinds of goals you want to achieve with these sculpture pieces. 

Such as:

  • Do you want to develop a gathering place?
  • Create easily understandable wayfinding signs?
  • Construct intricate street furniture (i.e. benches, tables, tree grates)?

Whatever you decide, you must provide your public artist with as much information as possible. This way we can determine the full scope of what you’re looking for and create something truly unique to your community.

Where Do You Want to Place Your Sculpture Pieces?

Another important part of the public art process is determining where you’d like to place your art. Where will the art make the most impact in your community? 

You never want to place it in an area that’s less frequently visited or an area where it’d be hard to see. You want to choose a spot that will synergize with the art to efficiently resonate with pedestrians. 

Some sites you may consider include:

  • A major entryway into your neighborhood
  • A well-lit area of your park
  • A new community center 
  • An up-and-coming or revitalized area
  • A bus stop or light rail station

The possibilities are endless. Going back to figuring out what you might be looking for, it would be good to let your public artist know the location you have in mind. This way they can determine the appropriate sizing and consider lighting when conceptualizing ideas for your sculpture pieces. 

Determine the Budget and Secure Funding

Money is what makes the world go round, and that’s very true when it comes to public art. Depending on the scope of your project, you can expect to spend big even on what you deem “simple projects”. That’s why before you even get started working with a public artist, you need to determine the budget you have to work with. Oftentimes, this involves a tremendous amount of research on your end. Then once you have the budget set, it’s important to figure out where the money will be coming from.

The Creative Process Begins…

Once everything has been set, we begin developing sculpture pieces based on everything you’ve provided. We will use your input on what you’re looking for to begin the creative process. During our initial discussions, we’ll inform you on how we manage the creative process such as conceptual designs, research, mock-ups, and software designs.

Once we have approval on the design, we’ll inform you of the companies we’ve worked with, where custom fabrication comes into play, and how we’ll bring all the pieces together to create your private art commissions. Once everything is forged, we’ll work with you to discuss how sculpture pieces will be installed on your property without creating a dysfunctional environment.

EG Structural Creates Sculpture Pieces That Beautify Communities

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!

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