Monthly Archives: Private commission Sculpture
A mural highlighting diversity with colorful outlines of people

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!

A group of children are playing on top of a large public art project in the park

How Do Public Art Projects Engage Communities?

Not only are public art projects a reflection of the community in which it stands, but it also attracts people to engage with it. It’s a powerful tool for bringing in tourism, enhancing community members’ health, and encouraging people to get involved in the arts. Even if it’s just appreciating what other people have created.

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 on how interactive public art projects attract communities. 

Public Art Creates Social Value and Placemaking

Art has the power to capture one’s imagination and encourage people to pay attention and perceive their environments more deeply. Not only that, it stimulates learning and thoughts about art and its correlation with society, our interconnected lives, and our place in society as a whole. Public art provides everyone in the community with direct and ongoing encounters with art. It engages social interaction—both during the selection process and following installation. And, artwork can lead the viewer toward self-reflection and awareness. 

Art Has the Power to Inspire Collaboration

Another way public art projects engage communities is how it provides a way for people to collaborate. The effort of creating art for public spaces is not a solo venture, it takes a village. Creating public art involves the artist sharing their creative point of view and approach to art-making; often collaborating with others in its development. As a result, there may be a strong sense of ownership in the community as members may feel they were a part of the creative process. 

A great example of this is our Roswell, New Mexico Welcome Signs. We included Roswell residents in our creative process to not only generate excitement towards the project but also gauge their opinions on our concepts. This allowed us to ensure everybody was happy with the work, including those who would see it every day on their commute.

Public Art Generates Greater Economic Value

As mentioned above, art installations have the potential to bring people into one’s community. According to Americans for the Arts, data strongly indicates that cities with an active and dynamic cultural scene are more attractive to individuals and businesses. What this means is that art can help grow interest in areas of the city and generate revenue for the organizations around it. That is why it’s important to consider investing in public art in community beautification projects, new business developments, and much more. 

Public Art Does What Art Museums Don’t

Not to say art museums aren’t important, because they are. But, public art provides a stronger sense of community and opens people’s minds and eyes to free installations. It’s free admission to a piece of art that demands our attention on things that matter to us as people:

  • Our community’s history.
  • Our sense of place.
  • Brings meaning within a community.
  • Illuminates the quality of life of the city in which it is located.

EG Structural Creates Sculpture Pieces That Inspire

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 custom fabrication professional working on a piece of metal

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!

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!

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 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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