One of the project goals was to create an artwork that expressed the energy and vitality of Jordan Skate Park and the people who use it. Ellison’s colorful sculpture, which is about 30 feet high, is also a “marker” for the location of the skateboard facility, providing optimum visibility from the street and the park. In Ellison’s project overview he stated of the sculpture, “It is designed to be a positive, intriguing, and fun work tailored specifically for the youth who encounter it and yet provide imagery which is general enough to appeal to all members of the neighborhood.”

Born in Michigan, Ellison acquired his BFA and MFA degrees from Michigan State University. He has permanently sited commissions across the country. Ellison first worked in ceramics. He taught at Michigan State University, Lansing Community College, College of Marin and San Francisco Academy of Art College. He migrated to large scale sculpture. He was recognized for his love of whimsy and colorful palette. Ellison passed away in September 2012.

In recognition of the significance firefighters have in our community, Utah artist Silvia Davis created this larger-than-life size form of a firefighter in full gear. The sculpture is prominently placed in the entry hall of Fire Station 1, the main fire station for Salt Lake City.

 

Noted Utah sculptor Silvia Davis’s style has been described as a geometric realism; often her carved wood or cast bronze works have a wit and charm not usual in “serious” sculpture.

 

Noted Utah sculptor Silvia Davis’s style has been described as a geometric realism; often her carved wood or cast bronze works have a wit and charm not usual in “serious” sculpture.

 

Silvia Davis and Jim Jacobs collaborated on this project for the new Gallivan Center plaza in 1994.

The snowflake design seen in the tree grates throughout Gallivan Plaza is a pattern easily recognized by Utahns. This pattern was taken from a photograph of a snowflake and then redrawn on a computer to make sure the openings were enough that water would easily flow to the trees. One quarter of the pattern was drawn life-size and was used to make two life size wooden patterns for the bronze casting. The finished grate consists of four bronze quadrants bolted together and treated with a patina finish.

This project was part of the Block 57 development / The Gallivan Center.

Artist Stephen Glassman was selected through a national competition for this project, and his work, somewhat abstracted in form, is based on the movement and airborne nature of skateboarding. The sculpture captures an image of a skateboarder in motion on a transparent material, sandwiched by panels of perforated galvanized steel. The overall scale of the sculpture is quite large.

Glassman contracted with two Utah-based companies for the fabrication and installation of this work, finding them both with the ability and reputation to create a high-quality product for him. Fabriweld, the metal fabricator, located in Davis County, is known for its roller coaster production abilities, and also produced the tower at the Salt Palace Convention Center and the gracefully arched pedestrian bridge at the Gallivan Center. 3Form produces various architectural and design materials of glass and resin, and has been receiving design awards for its work, as well as praise from the environmental community for its creative use of recycled materials.