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LYDIA RUBIO PUBLIC ART PORTFOLIO 2010 Š do not reproduce without permission
rubio20@bellsouth.net www.lydiarubio.com
My completed commissions are site specific multi-media pieces. Metal sculptures, floor design, mosaic and paintings. The works range in scale from architectural interventions to the more intimate scale of paintings and mosaic pieces. A narrative image-word approach helps me create engaging installations. Specific site characteristics and local community conditions become important pillars in my process of generating public art solutions.
By incorporating poetic texts and images that connect to relevant local issues, I capture the attention of the viewer, at an urban or public context, and lead the viewer to a recognition and discovery of a specially created landmark piece or “ place “. My experience as a designer and architect, helps me understand architectural and urban conditions, building design requirements, construction limitations and details, cost control and managing of fabrication processes and schedules. My pieces are conceived to integrate with the architectural conditions of the site and are fabricated using unconventional methods designed to create maximum volume and sculptural impact. Statement on public art 2010.
PUBLIC ART
RALEIGH-DURHAM I NTE R NATI O NAL
AIRPORT
TERMINAL C
Gate of Earth. Completed 10. 2 0 0 8 Gate of Air . In progress, completion 2011
The RDU Airport commission awarded for the Gate of Earth completed October 2008 and The Gate of Air, South Terminal to be completed in 2011. Conceptually ,The Gate of Air a spiral shell piece in stainless steel with floor design , is planned as the abstract and geometric component to the more naturalistic or realistic Gate of Earth.
STATEMENT GATE OF EARTH 2009 The Gate of Earth is about nature and architecture, travel as transformation. The tree, the bird, the floor, the words, suggest a powerful world of wonder to engage the viewer in multiple ways. All components relate to recognizable symbols of North Carolina: the Dogwood tree, the Cardinal bird, the words of Thomas Wolfe. The Tree sculpture is made of four sections . The three interior branches are tied to the building structure, spaning like bridges from column to column, separated six inches from the curtain wall glass. A contrast of organic forms versus a geometric grid, reflections and illusions of continuity in space were created. The exterior tree trunk was designed to conceal the metal bolted connection that allows demounting the trunk for repairs of the curtain wall glass.
The cardinal bird ( 2 ft high by 6 ft wide by 7 ft long ) is made of aluminum sheet, eight templates welded or riveted , turned or folded like origami.
The interior terrazzo floor creates a garden like base, a red field with marble and zinc inserts of the dogwood flowers and three recognizable words from a novel of Thomas Wolfe: a stone, a leaf, a door. The exterior colored concrete floor has the word EARTH inserted in stainless steel letters. Total floor area 60 ft long by 40 ft wide. Designed by the artist, fabrication under the terminal’s general contract.
GATE OF EARTH Aluminum tree and bird sculpture, interior and exterior floor design. 2008 Overall proportions : 25 ft x 30 Ft wide x 25 ft deep Aluminum pipes welded, bark texture : aluminum welds
View from departures level, inserts of flowers and text by Thomas Wolfe
Detail of separation at glass, each branch is supported at three points inside the terminal
RDU Cardinal 2008, aluminum sculpture 72’ x 72’ x 36” and etching 20 “ x 16 “ plate
GATE OF AIR RDU South Terminal , Commission in progress Spiral Shell Sculpture Sketch
Concept model for spiral
sculpture skin
Conceptual model 2005
Spiral Shell Sculpture Stainless Steel 45 ft high , Commission in progress 2010
PUBLIC ART T H E W O M E N’ S P A R K Dade County Art in Public Places and Parks and Recreation Department Commission Aluminum fences and gates, porcelain mosaic pavement insert with poem by Dulce M. Loynaz
Completion March 2 0 0 9
Inspired by a family legacy of women in the arts, Lydia Rubio has transformed the entrance of The Women’s Park into a lyrical and visual tribute to the women of Miami-Dade County. Opening on March 28, 2009, the artwork was commissioned by Miami Dade Art in Public Places Trust, in collaboration with Miami Dade Park and Recreation Department. The Women’s Park is the first park in the nation dedicated to women. The Gates commemorate and celebrate women’s achievements in our community and designates the presence of the Women’s Park along West Flagler Street to pedestrians and vehicular passengers. The design for the Women’s Park Gates and Fences incorporates text, figures and symbols relating to women. The compositions for the three art gates, which serve as the focal points of the 1000 linear foot fence design, are based on various poetic words alluding to women, including Courage, Love and Wisdom. In each of the gates, viewers will also find iconographic references of women, including women as crusaders, mermaids, fairies; women as flames, the sun, the eye, shells, birds and plants; and women as the air, water, fire and earth. As pedestrians enter the park through the central Gates of Love, they will discover embedded in the sidewalk a 12’ x12’ porcelain mosaic medallion designed by Rubio. Inscribed with a verse by Cuban poet and Cervantes Price winner, Dulce Maria Loinaz, the medallion reads, “What will I do with this spark, that thought it was the sun, with this sigh that thought it was the wind.”
. As pedestrians enter the park through the central Gates of Love, they will discover embedded in the sidewalk a 12’ x12’ porcelain mosaic medallion designed by Rubio. Inscribed with a verse by Cuban poet and Cervantes Price winner, Dulce Maria Loinaz, the medallion reads, “What will I do with this spark, that thought it was the sun, with this sigh that thought it was the wind.” Accompanying these words is the depiction of a wind gust on the right side of the medallion, suggesting the creation of woman, and open hands on the left, suggesting the warmth of love. As the artist states, “Throughout history, women have been represented as symbols of fantasy and virtue, bearers of the cosmic forces. The sculptural fences and artworks for The Women’s Park are structured as a linear narrative, running West to East of the Flagler Street park boundary. My intention is to use this fence to generate questions about women, their symbols, and provoke thought to both young and old visitors.”
The Women’s Park, GATE OF LOVE 2009 Painted aluminum 12 ft x 28 ft long by 8 “ deep. Mosaic porcelain piece 12 ft x 12 ft, marble pavers 30 x 30 ft
The Women’s Park GATE OF COURAGE 2009 Painted aluminum fence gate 9.5 ft high , 32 ft long, 8” deep. Marble pavers.
The Women’s Park GATE OF COURAGE 2009 Painted aluminum gate 9.5 ft high , 32 ft long, 8” deep. Marble pavers.
The Women’s Park GATE OF WISDOM 2009 Painted aluminum fencing and gate 10ft high by 32 ft long by 8” deep, marble pavers.
PUBLIC ART
Completed Commission PORT OF MIAMI
TERMINAL 3 2002
All Night Long, We Heard Birds Passing, 2002 Aluminum, oil paint
All Night Long, We Heard Birds Passing, a large scale side specific installation
integrating eight aluminum sculptures, six paintings on aluminum panels and text in aluminum letters. Approaching the installation as an unfolding linear narrative, Rubio incorporated words written 510 years ago by Christopher Columbus as he explored the same waters traveled by these crew ships. Integrating expansive views of sky with sculptural birds and text, the piece continues Rubio’s exploration of the journey as a path to transformation, growth and self-discovery
Commissioned by The Art in Public Places Trust
1
View from center of Terminal.
Stork and Boat, Aluminum 144” x 144” x 20”
Aluminum Boat 36” x 144” x 8” Bird 86” x 60” x 18” Harpie 40” x 40”
Evening Painting • 120” x 60” x 3”
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Anhinga, aluminum • 72” x 60” x 20”
LYDIA RUBIO PUBLIC ART 2200 SW 24th Street, Miami FL, 33145. Ph 305 859-9331, Fax 305 859-9331 rubio20@bellsouth.net www.lydiarubio.com
EDUCATION 1974 1969
1969
Master in Architecture, Harvard University GSD. Cambridge.MA Universita Degli Studi, School of Architecture, Florence Italy. Urban design studio. Bachelor in Architecture, University of Florida. Gainesville, FL.
COMPLETED COMMISSIONS 2009
THE WOMEN’S PARK, Miami Fl $ 585,000 ( art work $ 210,000 ) Commissioned by Miami Dade County Art in Public Places and Miami Dade Parks and Recreation Department. Sculptural metal fences and pedestrian gates.1000 ft long public park boundary art fences on Flagler Street, 2000 sq ft of marble pavers and porcelain mosaic insert. Gates of Love, Courage, Wisdom. Aluminum pieces with integrated figures, aluminum tubing and perforated metal, electrostatic paint finish. 9 ft to 12 ft high x 32 ft to 40 ft wide x 6 inches to 12 deep. Porcelain mosaic of 144 sf. with poem and figures.
2008
RALEIGH DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT NC, Terminal C $ 385,000 Total contract amount, North Lobby and South Lobby Commission of integrated metal sculptures, terrazzo flooring design. GATE OF EARTH Interior and exterior aluminum tree sculpture, aluminum tubing and welded textures. 25 ft x 30 ft x 25 ft. Aluminum bird 6 ft x 6 ft x 2 ft. Interior terrazzo flooring design, with text by Thomas Wolfe and flower inserts. 65 ft x 17ft. Exterior color concrete area with stainless steel inserts and words. 12ft x 60 ft long
2002
All Night Long, We Heard Birds Passing�. Port of Miami, Terminal #3 Contract amount $145,000 Commissioned by Dade County Art in Public Places. A permanent mixed media installation of: 9 sculptures, 6 paintings and text. Interior lobby wall. Dimensions: 220 ft long x 10 ft high x 6 ft deep.
COMMISSIONS IN PROGRESS 2009-2011RALEIGH DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT NC, Terminal C South Lobby (see budget above) GATE OF AIR Spiral sculpture, stainless steel. 45 ft high x 12 ft wide. Terrazzo flooring with text by Thomas Wolfe and spiral inserts. 65 ft x 17 ft Exterior color concrete area. In progress.