In addition to construction of a reflecting pool, seating, a labyrinth, synthetic turf area, a story circle and more, Tualatin’s future Veterans Plaza will contain three unique pieces of public artwork from a renowned national sculptor.
That art at the Lake of the Commons will be created by Kentucky-based sculptor Douwe Blumberg , who was selected as the artist of choice last winter after the city received 42 submissions from artists throughout the country, according to Julie Ludemann, recreation manager for the Tualatin Parks & Recreation.
“We narrowed it down to five different artists who actually (came) to Tualatin and (did) an in-person presentation with the selection committee,” she said. “The quality of artist that we got, we were really, really happy with … It was a really great process,” Ludemann said.
In addition to Kentucky, those finalist artists came from Oregon, Washington, California and Maine.
A son and father of U.S. veterans, Blumberg is a recipient of the 2018 Americans for the Arts’ Public Art in Review Award.
“He actually has a sculpture at Ground Zero,” said Ludemann. That 16-foot-tall bronze sculpture was the first major monument to honor America's Special Operations response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Blumberg has completed more than 200 private and public commissions throughout his career.
In Tualatin, Blumberg’s commissioned artwork will include two 10-foot square pedestal pieces in locations that formally held two large planter boxes.
The two pedestal pieces are titled "Wings of Freedom" and "Wings of Peace."
“Those are going to be about 11 and 13 feet tall. One of them is a dove, the other one is like an eagle or raptor,” Ludemann said. Both pieces will be made of aluminum magnesium alloy.
Meanwhile, the main 16-foot-tall "Flames of Honor" piece will stand at the entry to Veterans Plaza. It will be made of stainless steel and will feature a stained glass, internally illuminated flame at the top.
“This is really going to be beautiful. I think (Blumberg) was really able to articulate the connection between his art vision and the vision of the project,” said Ludemann. “It’s going to be a centerpiece for our community.”
The cost of all three pieces will be $160,000.
Ludemann said plans are to have the work at Veterans Plaza substantially completed by the Oct. 20 West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta, held on the Lake at the Commons.
“The sculptures will be installed after the completion of the overall Veterans Plaza. We’re looking at Memorial Day 2025 as sort of the grand opening of the art,” she said.
In 2020, the Tualatin City Council approved the Lake at the Commons as the location for the city’s first-ever memorial to veterans. Other contenders were Browns Ferry Park and Sweek Pond Natural Area.
In February, fencing went up along the Lake at the Commons as contractors began encapsulating the plaza site that is directly west of Lee’s Kitchen, off Southwest Seneca Street, as construction began.
Most Popular
Comments / 0