Port Urban Trees Selected

Tuesday, 25 March 2008

An artwork honoring those affected by the San Diego wildfires, another that celebrates the active lifestyle of the San Diego region and a third that was inspired by a movie about a search for a mythical shark are among the 30 new Urban Trees sculptures selected by the Port’s Public Art Committee.

The committee members reviewed 121 scale model proposals before selecting the 30 pieces this week.

These original sculptures will be located along the North Embarcadero between the Cruise Ship Terminal and Hawthorn Street to create the Urban Trees 5 exhibit that will begin in August. The Port is planning a dedication ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 2, to officially unveil the sculptures. The Port’s General Services Department will begin installing the Urban Trees in July.

For the artworks installation, each artist is supplied with a 12-foot pole placed in a concrete planter. The artists attach materials to the poles to create their sculptures, hence the name Urban Trees, and the sculptures may or may not bear any resemblance to actual trees.

The first 30 Urban Trees were installed in 2003 and the exhibit proved highly successful. Each Urban Trees installation remains for about one year and draws many visitors and residents to the bay front. All Urban Trees artworks are available for sale after each exhibit.

The Port’s Public Art Program was created in 1996 to promote a vibrant atmosphere that contributes to the quality and identity of the region. The Port was the first public agency in San Diego County to set aside a percentage of its budget for public art. It dedicates one-half of 1 percent of its projected revenues each year toward a public art fund that is used for the acquisition and maintenance of public artworks on Port tidelands.