Water Street Parking Garage, Jacksonville, Florida, 2020
Inspired by Jacksonville’s multiple natural and cultural histories, Emergence is a fusion of diverse place specific elements. The visually complex artwork overlays iconic imagery, abstract composition, environmental response and theatrical lighting effects. Creating an instant icon at a prominent gateway into downtown, the scale and location of this piece allow it to be experienced from various distances and vantages.
A central sculpture recalling a figment of Florida’s aquatic and botanical wonders crowns the southwest corner of the garage, floating above a mural of complex linework that encompasses the upper floors of the building. Set against a dark gray background that merges with the dark shadows between floors during the day and at night with the dark sky, the mural’s flowing water lines of paint and metal create an organic tracery that transitions at its outer edges into an interpretation of musical staffs with notes, as an homage to the rich musical history of nearby LaVilla as well as the modern-day Jacksonville Symphony. On the west façade the notes loosely interpret James Weldon Johnson and Rosamond Johnson’s poetic “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and on the south façade, a percussive portion of Courtney Bryan’s contemporary symphonic piece “Bridges.”
In the evening the artwork becomes a display of color and motion. The sculpture’s bright orange and magenta petals that are prominent during the day recede behind an organic assemblage of translucent rods that come alive with dynamic RGB LED light coursing through them. The chromatic and luminous play of these light rods coupled with light washes across the mural below results in a nightly performance of color and light.
Emergence’s sculpture was built by Atomic Fabrications and engineered by Yetiweurks. The mural was painted by Bill Savarese. Sculpture and lighting installation was by General Sign. Emergence was created as part of the Art in Public Places Program of the City of Jacksonville.