The Port of San Diego has approved concept proposals for three public art projects to be installed in conjunction with the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina’s $200 million redevelopment project.
The first artwork, titled “Tide,” is an exterior sculpture comprised of a series of LED-illuminated waves created from powder-coated aluminum tubes and ceramic tile pavers. The tubes and pavers will be arranged in a serpentine strand of sculptural waves that crest and fall. “Tide” will be installed on Marina Walk outside of the new Marriott Hall.
A second outdoor sculpture, titled “Kelp,” will be constructed of painted steel strips with LED lighting that will line the pathway along Marina Walk. The bent steel elements represent strands of kelp and are covered with steel sheathing and partially powder-coated with a range of bright greens, blues and yellows, reminiscent of sunlit kelp on the ocean floor.
Both “Tide” and “Kelp” are designed by Los Angeles-based artists After Architecture.
The third proposed artwork, titled “Mountainscape,” will be located in the Marriott Grand Ballroom prefunction area, visible to the public from Harbor Drive via the curtainwall system of the new Marriott Hall currently under construction. Designed by artist Mark Smith with crystal manufacturer Swarovski , this one-of-a-kind sculptural chandelier embodies the coastline of San Diego. The artwork consists of suspended laser-cut stainless steel panels with embedded Swarovski crystals. The crystals encircle a center form of graduated strands of faceted Swarovski crystal beads, creating topographical lines representing an inverted range of hills and the reflection of land in water.
The proposals were approved by the board of port commissioners under the port’s “Tenant Percent for Art” program, which requires that projects of $5 million or more set aside at least 1 percent of the cost for public art. Installation is anticipated for summer 2016.