Monthly Archives: Public Art
EG Structural's creative wayfinding signage for Albuquerque Route 66 signs

What is Creative Wayfinding and How Can It Help the Public?

Navigation is fundamental in our daily lives. This is especially true when visiting new cities and large businesses as it makes it easier to understand where you need to go. One way municipalities and businesses ensure easy navigation is through creative wayfinding. It’s an incredible resource that guides you to your desired destination. Many organizations are using wayfinding signage to highlight their unique identity. As a result, the signage acts as a functional piece of art that benefits tourists and citizens. 

At EG Structural, we’ve designed several creative wayfinding pieces, such as Mesa del Sol and Albuquerque Route 66 signs, to enrich the community experience. Learn how wayfinding can play a critical role in reaching your organization’s goals.

Creative Wayfinding Helps You Stand Out

We interact with wayfinding all the time. You’ll find them in grocery stores, retail shops, roadways, airports, and much more. The purpose of wayfinding is to get you from point A to point B as directly as possible. If the planning, design, and implementation are developed appropriately, users will be able to make an educated directional choice. However, this is not achieved without the expertise of a designer.

Moreover, there’s huge potential to create signage that informs, but it stands out. This not only creates a unique identity for your brand and community but also gets eyes on the sign. As part of our Mesa del Sol project, our goal was to effectively guide users to their destination with a complementing theme. That theme includes the surrounding natural plant life and the area’s modern architectural design. As a result, our creative wayfinding signage added another level of identity to the area. 

It is Signage That Offers a Helping Hand

Think about all the times you’ve taken a trip somewhere you’ve never been before. Remember how you might have missed that turn in Albuquerque or kept driving on that long stretch of road? The whole purpose of wayfinding is to help you avoid these situations.  Nightingale said it best: “The goal is not to herd people but to encourage successful exploration”.

There are so many destinations people can visit, with many possible routes they can use to get to them. A lot of people take wayfinding for granted when driving in a new area, but a lot goes into the signage. For instance, we had to follow strict guidelines set by the Department of Transportation to construct our Albuquerque Route 66 signs. We had to adhere to regulations such as:

  • Use specific fonts and font sizes
  • Use a specific size for our arrows
  • Make the signs reflective so drivers can effectively see them at night
  • And much more

While we faced these challenges during the design phase of the project, we were able to adapt. These constraints allowed us to design something that’s equally attractive as it is functional. As a result, we put a spotlight on the city’s historic stretch of Route 66 while creating helpful navigation signs for passersby. 

Creative Wayfinding Serves Small Communities

When we constructed the Mesa del Sol signage, we made sure it can be easily adapted to the community. We made it so the client could change the destinations on the signs in the event a business is no longer there.  We knew we had to create something to make it easier for our client to adapt their signage to new community additions. 

One of our goals with Mesa del Sol was to inform users of the businesses that are there. Wayfinding is a valuable tool for communities, as it highlights the businesses in the area. Moreover, they inspire people to explore and engage with the community.  We develop each of our signs to invoke a strong emotion and generate interest in the area. 

EG Structural Are Creative Professionals on a Mission

For over 25 years, EG Structural has been on a mission to create private commission work that evokes a response from community members. Whether we’re developing creative wayfinding designs or large-scale sculpture pieces, we always look for ways to shine a light on our clients’ identities. Contact us today to learn how we can highlight your unique background.

Cloud Gate or "The Bean" in Millennium Park in Chicago with visitors looking at the large scape public art

3 Incredible Ways Public Art Beautifies and Unifies Your City

One of the most effective ways to beautify and build pride in a city is by incorporating public art installations into your infrastructure. More and more cities are trying to figure out how to generate interest from locals and out-of-towners. As a result, they’re turning to artists and custom fabrication professionals to develop engaging public art pieces to revitalize areas and encourage tourism. 

Urban renewal, green spaces, public art, all are becoming critical strategies in the town’s revitalization initiatives. 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.

Public Art Can Build a Public Identity 

One of the problems many cities are facing is the loss of residents due to their relocation. This can be caused by several factors, like the job market, livability, and the environment. But, another reason may be because of a lack of interest in the city itself. 

Public art has an incredible way of resonating with communities and enthralling resident’s attention. Oftentimes, public art installations incorporate elements that relate to the city’s history or attributes to evoke their emotions. When we began designing our Tulsa Route 66 monument we knew we had to incorporate elements that inspire perseverance. 

Take a look at other famous modern sculptures and how they reflect their city’s identity. When you visit ‘Cloud Gate’ or more commonly known as ‘The Bean’ in Chicago, it literally reflects what the city is all about. You can stare at it for hours, looking at the surrounding skyscrapers and Chicagoans hustling by. It’s designed to inspire you and reflect what the city is all about in a unique way. 

Art Can Build a Sense of Community

If you’ve ever paid a visit to Phoenix, you might have noticed the abundance of murals that grace the buildings downtown or brick fences in developing neighborhoods. These pieces have enabled artists to express their creativity while attracting people to these blooming cityscapes.

Whether it’s a large-scale art sculpture or mural, art has the power to bring people together. Additionally, it creates a welcoming environment that invites people to walk through the neighborhood and discover new art and sculpture pieces. Moreover, it invites people to engage with community members, local businesses, and feel like they’re a part of something bigger than themselves. 

Excite Tourism with Engaging Public Art

Think about it, when people travel, what kind of places do they visit? 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. 

Beautify Your Community With EG Structural’s Artistic Expertise

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 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.

A Large Scale Art Installation of a kinetic art sculpture

Kinetic Art Sculptures: Where Art Takes Life

If you remember back to your middle school physics class, kinetic energy is energy in motion. It’s a fascinating scientific principle that many people forget has a significant place in public art. These kinetic art sculptures evoke strong emotional responses due to their fluidity and strong design features. Additionally, businesses and government entities benefit from public enthusiasm – leading to higher tourist and consumer activity. 

EG Structural has a deep passion for creating public art pieces that recognize your unique identity. Kinetic art installations are just one specialty that we are capable of providing to ensure your brand is represented artistically and functionally. Our article below details what goes into a beautiful kinetic art sculpture and its impact on public perception. 

The Popularity of Kinetic Art Sculptures?

In the 20th century, the use of movement in art became a popular aspect of many prominent sculpture pieces. This art form is called kineticism and its popularity has not slowed down. Many private art commission sculptures adopt some form of kineticism due to their simple, but fluid design. Artists like Naum Gabo, Marcel Duchamp, László Moholy-Nagy, and Alexander Calder were prominent figures in the movement and inspired artists and sculpture lovers from around the world. 

What Goes into Kinetic Art Projects?

The magic behind kinetic art sculptures is not easy to come by. It takes a lot of energy and resources to ensure everything is in working order. Furthermore, just like with any large-scale art project, it takes a lot of brainstorming, designing, engineering, and custom fabrication knowledge to bring art to life.  

Building kinetic art sculptures is equally an art project as it is a scientific experiment. It involves designing pieces that when put together will move in unison. Depending on the artist’s design, it will incorporate different parts to power movement, like wind and motors. 

To design a kinetic sculpture, artists will painstakingly create each piece on paper or digitally. Then with the power of custom fabrication, these pieces will become reality and fit together to form the intricate design. When enlisting an artist for a private commission art project, businesses and municipalities should hire an artist or company that will:

  • Conceptualize and design a sculpture based on your feedback
  • Coordinate production, quality, and risk minimization throughout the installation
  • Coordinate with custom fabrication, transportation, and construction professionals
  • Make recommendations on proper sculpture maintenance

Kinetic Art Sculpture’s Impact on The Community

Public art adds enormous value to our communities by providing cultural, aesthetic, and economic vitality. Structures such as kinetic art have become an accepted aspect of urban design because of its contribution to the area’s identity. Additionally, it fosters a sense of pride and inspiration for residents and tourists alike. Simply put, communities without public art are a little less vibrant and people are less likely to feel pride in their city or business.

EG Structural Has a Passion For Building Timeless Landmarks

EG Structural is proud of every public art installation we’ve designed and constructed for our clients. We partner with skilled experts to produce quality relics that embody the spirit of the community it is built for. Whether it’s a kinetic art sculpture or a single standing structure, EG Structural is passionate about building large-scale relics that you and your community can admire for years to come. Contact us today to discuss a possible private commission project.

A Metal Fabrication professional forging large scale art piece with a table saw

The Importance of Metal Fabrication in Large Scale Art

When it comes to large-scale art projects, many artists find themselves in need of custom metal fabrication. This is not anything new, as artists have partnered with fabricators for centuries to design, mold, and construct sculptures. While many people may assume it’s a one-man job, public art installations take a village and without expert fabricators, many famous landmarks would not enrich our communities. 

For over 25 years EG Structural has partnered with communities in the United States to construct timeless landmarks that embody the heart of the community. With the assistance of seasoned metal fabricators, we have designed and constructed remarkable relics that will stand the test of time. 

What Metal Fabrication Professionals Do

Metal fabricators provide expert support in bringing artists’ visions to life. They manipulate metal to meet the concept the artist has in mind. This often involves cutting, shaping, positioning, and aligning different metals to form the design. Additionally, they will understand how to assemble the project and ensure the structure’s parts are available and of high quality. 

Metal fabrication experts are there almost every step of the way. They attend development meetings, test for functionality, verify product dimensions, and maintain a production schedule. With their assistance, the artist’s vision is safely and accurately constructed for the public.

How Artists and Metal Fabrication Experts Synergize

Let’s be honest with ourselves, most artists aren’t engineering experts. They’re creative thinkers with wild imaginations and an eye for highlighting the uniqueness of a subject. But, when you combine the expertise of an artist and a metal fabricator, wonderful things happen.

Fabrication pushes the artist’s vision beyond the sheet of paper by supplying the equipment, space, and skills needed to bring sculpture pieces to life. Not to mention they can assist artists in conceptualization and provide an engineering perspective to design concepts. Also, fabricators give the artist more time to conceive and develop ideas for other projects.

One of the most common conversations artists and fabricators have is “How are we going to do?” One of the many benefits of partnering with a metal fabrication professional is their ability to problem-solve. When it comes to public art displays, there are constant hurdles one must overcome to ensure a successful installation. Making the engineering experience paramount in just about any large-scale art project. 

EG Structural Partners with Accomplished Metal Fabrication Experts

For over 25 years EG Structural has conceptualized and designed artistic renderings that have been brought to life due to the hard work of professional fabricators. We take pride in what we do, and it shows in the design, materials, and concepts used in each of our projects. We believe art has the power to bring people together and highlight what makes a city truly special, so why not use unique elements? Contact EG Structural today and learn how we can assist in your art installation.

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