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Art Inside the Walnut Creek Library

5/8/2014

Front of the Walnut Creek Library on the corner of Lincoln and Broadway.

"Shhh" by Christian Moeller flanked by "Portrait of 12 Volumes of Gray" by the same artist.

The City of Walnut Creek adopted an ordinance called the Public Art Master Plan requiring that 1% of the budget for new construction projects exceeding 25,000 square feet be designated to providing funding for projects for Public Art for citizens to enjoy. Some projects do not have sufficient space or design flexibility to install Public Art within the property. So, the City created on In Lieu of Installation Find which was used to finance part of the installation of the 2 new fountains in the downtown area. Even public buildings have to meet this funding requirement.

Landscape With Watermill, ascribed to J. Maris

These three Dutch Oils were generously donated by Dr. Jan and Mrs. Mary Ann Beekhuis to the City of Walnut Creek and hang on the first floor to the right of the Children's Wing.

Landscape with Farm, Anthonius Henricus Koster

The Children's Wing is graced with creations by Joyce Hsu Called "Flyway."

Lorene Anderson's "Baucis" is more spectacular than this picture depicts.

The walking tour of Street Art in Walnut Creek left me a little disappointed that there was no major piece of art decorating the outer entrance of the New Library. But tour guide, Jane Emanuel quickly dispelled those feelings by taking me inside. It is filled with Art galore! Since it cost $42 million dollars to construct the library, the city had an obligation to follow the 1% Fee Requirement and budgeted enough to house 40 separate pieces of art within its walls.

Mother and Child At Table Near Window, Jan Simon Krikker

The Walnut Creek Theme is everywhere in the design of the building with the carpet pieces resembling bubbles from the stream.

Ends of each Bookcart depict the waves of Walnut Creek

"Journey of A Bottle" Recycled Art by Marta Thoma

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Walnut Creek Street Art - Segment One

5/6/2014

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Veteran’s Memorial Plaza, a tribute to the Services designed by Cliff Garten with 5 pools, 5 Monuments, 5 Pillars and the Tribute bench

Part of the joy of writing a Blog on “How Walnut Creek Embraces the Arts” comes from meeting such a delightful array of people who are so passionately volunteering to serve the community. They see it as a personal mission to enhance the public’s appreciation of this wonderful cultural hub we have at our beck and call. When I started planning the next post to cover the street art available to people to freely enjoy, I was unaware of just how many treasures there were to discover and appreciate in this fine City!

Bedford Gallery’s, Jane Emanuel has created a

Birch trees lined up in formation representing the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and Marines

fascinating series of 4 different one hour walks
that the public can undertake with her to discover those treasures. For a mere $5 each, you too can join her solo or with a group to do Walk #3 on May 17th if you simply show up at in the Plaza in front of the Lesher Center for the Arts. In reality, the tours are conducted 11am on the 3rd Saturday of every month from April through November. I was fortunate enough to get a private guided tour and she shared so many pieces that I now realize that I need to create a separate post just on the art works inside the Walnut Creek library. That will be next.

Fountainhead by Seyed Alavi

Jane is very creative in sharing stories about the specific artworks, when they were installed, any history behind them or where else the artist’s work is also on display. She is clearly comfortable engaging her audience in asking them what they see when they view the art and has a very organized tour.
There are 30 Listed Locations of Public Art Work On Walnut Creek’s Walking Tours
http://bedfordgallery.org/programs/walkingtours.shtml