Sensing Spring, 2022
Transitions into Fall, 2022
Fused glass
83″ x 21″ x .5″
83″ x 19.5″ x .5″
Sunrise Elementary School, Puyallup, WA
Fabrication by Alex Hirsch and Fireart Glass
Public Art Commissioned by:
The State of Washington & Washington State Arts Commission
In 2021, teachers and educational administrators at Sunrise Elementary selected me to create public art for their school through Washington States Percent for Art Program. Multiple committee members were trained practioners of Visual Thinking Strategies. I enjoyed working with educators so enthusiastic about the importance of art.
After considering multiple locations within their building, we got excited to transform a spacious alcove into their Art Gallery. My work would create a space for thinking about art, meeting in a setting other than the classroom, and – well, we’ll see!
Ms. Hirsch’s work is the perfect complement to our school’s Art Gallery. Students are able to reflect, explore, and meditate in the space. She was also very informative and intentional throughout the development and installation process. We are deeply appreciative for what she shared with our school community.”
—Melayne Jones, Principal and Jim Ohlinger, Assistant-Principal, Sunrise Elementary
Sensing Spring is an abstract, poetic composition designed to evoke sensations and conditions during the easy months of spring in the Pacific Northwest. Colors might suggest plant material and flowers. Spacious skies offer the cheer and comfort of moderate weather. It is an invitation to imagine.
Transitions of Fall evokes our long progression of fall moving towards winter. Yellows and greens suggest the early months while cool blues and greys intimate winter. Clouds and stars are recognizable among the abstract language of color and pattern. One might see an evocation of ice forming, or a leaf turning. It is an invitation to remember.
The commission includes my own poem about color offering insights to the visual work and educational paths for teachers.
Below: details of the surface, me at Fireart Glass, and a video showing the finished glass as compared to my plan. At the bottom, you’ll also see my initial color selections and the site at the time of being commissioned.
Click here for a short video
It was a real pleasure to work on this project with Alex. Throughout the process, she remained sensitive to the school’s needs and was able to deliver an outstanding work of art that not only enlivens the space but will serve as an educational opportunity for multiple disciplines. This achievement is made more impressive since it was designed, fabricated, and installed during the COVID pandemic.”
— Chuck Zimmer, Project Manager, Washington State Arts Commission