SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Twelve
CSUSB art students who participated in “ArtStop,” a
public art project in downtown San Bernardino, were publicly
recognized along with developers Watson & Associates
at a special ceremony Monday, Oct. 3, at San Bernardino City
Hall.
Mayor Judith Valles and the San Bernardino city council
joined in the ceremony in front of city hall to mark the
unveiling of the first public art project in downtown San
Bernardino in many years. In addition, the project represents
just a portion of $200,000 in funding from Watson & Associates
to Cal State San Bernardino’s art department that
will support a series of public art projects in the city.
CSUSB professor and internationally recognized public
artist Richard Johnston and other art faculty are working
with students to create public art works to adorn parks
and public areas. The program is being administered by
Professor Sant Khalsa, art department chair, under the
auspices of the College of Arts and Letters.
Watson & Associates partners Charles Shumaker and
Chuck Diamond have closely worked with the university’s
art department in developing and financially supporting
the overall vision for the project.
The first of the projects, “ArtStop,” which
is co-sponsored by the city, California State University,
San Bernardino and Watson & Associates, is the centerpiece
of a Taste of Downtown. Sponsored by the Downtown Area
Revitalization Team, Taste of Downtown will take place
on the city hall plaza and at Court Street Square and is
designed to showcase the various downtown arts, entertainment
and food venues.
“ArtStop” is comprised of a series of 12 24-inch
concrete spheres that were painted with designs by Cal
State San Bernardino art students. The spheres will be
permanently installed at various locations downtown. “Arts
and entertainment” is the theme of the artwork, which
is intended, according to members of the downtown revitalization
team, to add color and art to downtown.
Students were invited to submit designs in the spring.
A jury comprised of the university’s art faculty,
representatives of Watson & Associates and city officials
reviewed 18 designs and selected the 12 finalists. Watson & Associates
provided a $500 commission to each finalist. The city purchased
the spheres and, over the past few months, the students
rendered their designs onto the spheres. |
