In October 2018, the Salt Lake City Fire Department opened the new Fire Station 3 in Sugar House. Following Fire Station 14, it is the nation’s second fire station to be built as a LEED Gold certified, Net Zero energy building. Utah-based artist Sarinda Jones was commissioned to create three public art installations inside of the building. The installations– Parley’s Undercurrent, Common Threads, and Tribute– were completed and installed in March of 2019.

Parley’s Undercurrent is an installation of approximately 240 kiln-formed glass disks that reference Parley’s Creek, which runs through Sugar House and connects the neighborhood. Sarinda drew inspiration from the calming, serene movement and colors of the creek and sought to bring these qualities into the station to create a restful atmosphere for the fire fighters who live and work at the station. As part of the fabrication process for this installation, Sarinda invited the fire fighters to her studio to create disks of their own that were later integrated into the final installation.

Common Threads, the second installation, is a triptych which abstracts the idea of intertwined community and greets those who enter the Fire Station through the main doors. Its overlapping threads represent both the interconnected communities that the fire fighters serve, as well as the gridded streets that make up Salt Lake City.

Tribute, the third installation, depicts the previous Fire Station 3, reinforcing a sense of the history of Sugar House and of the previous Fire Station.

Situated in the interior of the building, these three works are on view and can be seen by contacting the Fire Station to schedule a visit.

Parley’s Undercurrent, 2019, kiln-formed glass.
Common Threads, 2019, kiln-formed glass.
Tribute, 2019, kiln-formed glass.

Photos by Logan Sorenson.