Huntington Beach Central Park: To See Yourself in Nature

Huntington

Beach Central

Park: To See

Yourself in

Nature

Client

City of Huntington Beach

Location

Huntington Beach, CA

Completion date

July 2023

Sited along a walking path next to the park's Secret Garden, this installation of etched brass and stainless steel responds to the strong character of the architecture of the nearby library and its fountains.

Public Art

The installation invites park visitors to explore and reflect upon the natural wonders of the cherished 300-acre Central Park and its anchor, the Huntington Beach Central Library designed by renowned architect Dion Neutra and Associates. The installation is 鈥溾€� art as mirror held up to nature鈥� to see yourself in nature鈥︹€� inviting visitors to connect with empathy to the energy of the natural world in the park and each other.

Park visitors are welcomed to pause and connect to the beauty of the natural world reflected in the artwork.

The installation reveals connections between nature, light, water, the built world, and our unique perceptions.

鈥淲hat someone might think of as a butterfly might remind me 鈥� or could remind others 鈥� of feathers,鈥� Niebuhr said. It was intentional, to have it be open. There鈥檚 never any right or wrong answer in art, but you can invite someone to contemplate.

Lynn Semeta, (Former) Mayor of Huntington Beach, said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 really just a dream come true for me. When I first went into public service, a big goal of mine was always to bring more public art to the city, and here we are. It took longer than I thought, but we鈥檙e here.鈥�

The installation is an invitation to explore and discover patterns found in nature.

The piece is thoughtfully scaled and sited in relation to pathways, sightlines, and the Secret Garden.

The crescent shapes, made of stainless steel and etched brass, are mounted to a single foundation beneath an organic oval shaped surface with a stone selected and placed at each form to invite a place for contemplation.

To See Yourself in Nature,