McKinley East Sacramento Neighborhood Association (MENA)

WHEN UTILITY BECOMES ART

Feb 03, 2003

Did you ever look at the Water Tower behind Safeway on Alhambra and wish this massive structure could be more attractive?

Well, two MENA Directors have. Joining a City appointed panel to explore options to improving the appearance of this city landmark, Cecily Hastings and Howard Schmidt, have been engaged in this activity for more than a year.

Early activity included a call for proposals to improve its appearance. Through this step, interested artists could submit their concepts and their experience with other public projects. The panel reviewed many ideas and, selecting the most interesting submissions, called upon the artists to refine their concepts.

In October, 2002, this short list of artists presented their expanded concepts to the panel. Evaluating creativity, use of relevant themes, and appropriateness for the East Sacramento community, the panel recommended an artist for the project.

While much remains to be finalized, the selected artist has proposed a water theme ?— incorporating vessels, representation of flowing water and water fowl ?— executed in steel and light.

Those of us who have marveled at the size and blandness of the East Sacramento water tower and wished it more attractive, look forward to further progress on this front.