About Us
News » Sun Salutations Press Release
Sun Salutations Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2005
Public Art Work “Sun Salutations” Installed At Southeast Branch Public Library
JACKSONVILLE, FL – A new installation of public art by Phoenix, Ariz. artist BJ Katz at the Southeast Branch Public Library was completed yesterday for the city’s Art in Public Places Commission. “Sun Salutations” is a 7 foot high by 4 foot wide glass panel, measuring 3/8 inch thick and weighing nearly 200 pounds. The tempered glass is kiln fired in colors of blue, yellow, gold and orange with overlays of dichroic (prism) glass.
This installation is the sixth of fourteen major public art installations slated for the Jacksonville Public Library, complementing this year’s installations of Larry Kirkland’s bronze owl sculpture, “Wisdom,” at the new Main Library; Liz Mapelli’s glass panel sculpture “SquirrelyQ” at the new Argyle Branch; Kelli Bickman’s mural, “Imagination Tree” at Brentwood Branch; and Joe Segal’s concrete and marble aggregate sculpture “Revelation” at the San Marco Branch Library.
“Sun Salutations” hangs overhead, under the glass cathedral ceiling of the newly renovated library’s sitting area. Natural light illuminates the panel throughout the day and lighting from beneath will highlight it at night. The design of the work is based on sunlight and pays tribute to the wonderful quality of sunlight for which Florida is known. Local glass installers, Jernigan’s Glass and Mirror, Inc., of Arlington, installed the work in just under two hours with a two-man lift, using specialty cables and hardware.
“BJ Katz’s glass piece is a perfect compliment to the new architecture at Southeast Library. It takes advantage of the natural light and enhances their new reading area beautifully,” said Jeff Dunn, Chairman of the Art in Public Places Commission. “As with all our library projects, fine art that’s been specially designed for a public space will allow thousands of library patrons to enjoy it over many years.”
Katz’s artwork is known for its originality, intricacy, beauty and scale. Pushing the edge of the artistic and technical envelope, Katz has been a major contributor to the development of kiln-cast glass in the United States. She has worked on over 150 commissions, which include many public works of art, and is represented in a dozen major art galleries. She was chosen from a field of approximately 30 applicants for this project.
The Art in Public Places Program is directed by the City’s Art in Public Places Commission, with assistance provided by the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville. For more information on Jacksonville’s public art program, contact the Art in Public Places Office at 358-3600, or visit the website at www.culturalcouncil.org.