City of San Luis Obispo, CA

The City of San Luis Obispo invites community members to attend a public ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the installation of a new public art piece, Sculpture Jam, on the Mission Plaza lawn (between Mission Plaza and the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art) on Friday, January 30 at 12 p.m. (noon).

The event is free and open to the public and will include brief remarks from City leaders, project partners, and the deceased artist’s family, followed by an opportunity for attendees to view the artwork and connect with one another in the space.

Sculpture Jam draws its monumental form from massive redwood trees and integrates elegant copper craftsmanship. Created by Bruce Johnson, the piece’s organic, dynamic shapes breathe new life into ancient wood. It explores themes of connectedness intended to offer a sense of hope for a resilient future.

Johnson was a San Francisco-based artist whose work focused on large-scale sculptures, drawing inspiration from nature and sacred pieces of architecture, such as Stonehenge and Japanese Shinto shrines. His large-scale sculptures can be found as public art in Italy, Spain and Taiwan, as well as many private and public collections across the United States.

The artwork was installed this week at the lawn between Mission Plaza and the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art (SLOMA) as part of the City/SLOMA partnership. This location was chosen for the City’s rotating sculpture program because of its visibility. It’s a gateway to the Mission Plaza, a community gathering spot, and near the entrance to SLOMA. The artwork there today offers an opportunity to help viewers stay grounded in the present while connecting to the natural environment and different communities.

The total project cost is about $55,000. Projected costs include 18-month lease of the sculpture, fabrication, installation, care and maintenance, and deinstallation. and related expenses.

The City extends its appreciation to the many partners who helped bring this project to life, including SLOMA, General Contractor Steven Rarig, Avila Traffic Safety, Louie’s Crane Service and The Bruce Johnson Estate.

ABOUT THE CITY’S PUBLIC ART PROGRAM 
The City’s Public Art Program helps create a vibrant community where people want to live, work, and visit, and builds pride, identity, and a strong sense of place across public spaces throughout San Luis Obispo. The City's dedicates 1% of the General Fund to public art, which is managed by the Parks & Recreation Department. There are over 150 unique pieces of public art in San Luis Obispo’s collection ranging from murals, mosaics, oil and watercolor paintings, utility box art, stained glass, sculptures, benches, bridge railings, and more may be seen throughout the community. For more information about the City’s Public Art Program, visit www.slocity.org/PublicArt. 

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Media Contact: Meghan Tolley, Recreation Manager, 805.781.7070 | MTolley@slocity.org