Above, artist Sijia Chen.
Conceptual art in a public space takes a great deal of work to achieve, and artist Sijia Chen has had that experience first-hand in creating a work for the city of Claremont, Calif. She set out to “present an abstract interpretation of a tree that incorporated my own personal narrative, along with historical and literal elements that I associated with Claremont, the City of Trees,” she says.
And she’s done so successfully with her lustrous Arbor, selected by the Public Art Committee and approved by the City Council for purchase as part of Claremont’s Public Art Program.
The artist’s work is an outdoor sculpture on permanent display in front of Claremont City Hall. Curved, sleek, and visually engaging, the sculpture is an abstract interpretation of a tree trunk. Engraved on the exterior of its steel panels are the botanical names, in both Latin and English, of tree species found in the city.
Chen notes that “In Claremont’s request for proposals, they specifically indicated that it should take into consideration the importance of site specificity, engagement with local narratives/history, and appropriate imagery and materials for public space. I was familiar with Claremont’s charming and picturesque setting, and the significance of their rich and diverse community of trees was a singular and defining element of their community.”
While the image of a tree came naturally to Chen, she worked through about 20 sketches before settling on Arbor‘s basic structure and visual lines. “I had one of my graphic designers create a color rendering and then place it on a photograph of the project site. It was crucial to be able to visualize and evaluate Arbor in relation to its positioning in front of city hall,” she relates.
Once she was satisfied with the work’s size, orientation, and dialogue with its surroundings, she worked with a CAD specialist and structural engineer to ensure lines and overall structure were both consistent with her original design, and viable for fabrication.
Chen’s piece is constructed entirely out of stainless steel. “I wanted Arbor to be a minimal and elegant structure, with organic shapes and curves, and without any excess visual weight. I wanted the surfaces of the piece to have a matte finish, but still convey texture and graining,” she asserts. “The sculpture also needed to be durable and weather resistant since it would be on permanent display outdoors.” So, for its strength, durability, and visual qualities, she chose stainless steel to craft her work.
Once that decision was made, it was time to fabricate the piece, a process which included several challenges.
“I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the finish of the stainless steel surfaces after the engraving of the text was completed,” Chen says. “I ultimately made the decision to sand down the entire surface and re-engrave the text and refinish everything,” she relates.
The result was worth the effort: Arbor is a beautiful, lasting piece that invites viewer contemplation, a work that should grow with the city – much as its trees do.
- Genie Davis; photos provided by artist.
