Press Release

THE OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
Syracuse Public Artist in Residence, Brendan Rose, is working with Syracuse University Industrial and Interaction Design students and community participants to create a public art sculpture that will sit above the Onondaga Creek along the newly developed Armory Square section of the Creekwalk. The goal of the installation is to act as a symbolic and formal reminder of the importance of our relationship with the Onondaga Creek.

In the development of this sculpture, the design team investigated common perceptions of public artworks in Syracuse and around the world, and also tried to understand people’s view of the downtown location of the Onondaga Creek. Based on this investigation, the team felt it was important for their design to serve as an iconic, engaging piece that marks and draws attention the creek as it travels through city. In addition, it was hoped that a design could speak to our community’s re-commitment to caring for the creek, a once wonderful natural resource that had been tainted through people’s neglect and abuse.

Just as Onondaga Creek appears sporadically as one travels throughout Syracuse, the sculpture, taking the form of a serpent-like creature, will appear and disappear alongside the Creekwalk. Its undulating form will mimic the flow of water, while its strong, attentive presence will embody the protective nature of the community’s renewed relationship to the creek.

Head!

(self explanatory!)


Below: the first segment framing.

Color Choices

Ava has been busy working on color schemes for the keeper. She ended up producing twenty two different color "swatches." Out of the set these three are our favorite. We tried to keep the large building directly behind our creature in mind, as its painted a bright salmon.

We agreed that our serpent like form gives way to a green color scheme. Reptiles tend to evoke a wide range of green hues.

Yellow could be a nice way to accent the green, but some are concerned that it could look like a traffic sign (something safety themed).

A blue and green scheme could be nice because a lot of green might blend in to the grassy creek too well.

...and here they are folks, the final color swatches!

No going back now, we already ordered the paint!

Sealing the Deal: Buying Steel

We picked up our steel materials from Mack Bros over on the West Side of Syracuse yesterday. The team is using steel for the upper body of the keeper, while cement will be used for the base for securing it to the soft ground.

Mack Bros agreed to help us out, doing a lot of the larger welding work that our team isn't as skilled in. Last Wednesday a few from their team guided us through the process of assembly on the head piece. Thanks guys, we couldn't do this without you!

From our full scale cardboard mockups we moved right into final production. Here we are in transition.

Jeff measures out steel with chalk and yardsticks at Mack Bros.

Jim at Mack Bros helps us out cutting sections for the head piece of the keeper.

Caught a smile from public artist, Brendan Rose.

The Name Game

Here is a list of names we've been toyin' around with:

Liz
Walker
Guardian
Zeke of the Creek
Monty
Keeper
Neko
Corry
Connie
Wanderer
Protector
Seeker
Cusey

But maybe everyone should have their own name for the "serpent" This way it can be a friend to everyone who encounters it.

Workin' for the Weekend

...the class assembles sketch models of the keeper.

The Designers: Hard at Work

Rae slices through cardboard for the perimeter model.

Jeff leans on our workspace while brainstorming with Dan.

Liz uses a steady hand to assemble the main body of the Keeper.

Becca, with glue gun resting on her knee, determines the perimeter for our "to scale" mockup.

Ava works on color studies in Photoshop.

Dan mixes plaster for the model's base.

Shin works in harmony with Brendan.
Our fearless leader Brendan assembles the head of the Keeper model.