A glowing green art installation by renowned artist Jim Campbell is set to light up Water Street. The installation, Three Arcs, will bring an entirely new piece of public art to one of the most burgeoning districts in Tampa. This will be in addition to a brand new light display set to shine by the Marriott Hotel in Water Street.
As Water Street Tampa continues to take shape in Downtown Tampa, real estate development firm Strategic Property Partners, LLC (“SPP”) is pleased to announce the expansion of its vibrant public art in the community.
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Reflecting Water Street Tampa’s overall vision to create a welcoming environment with diverse experiences, the curated art celebrates the core values of Water Street Tampa: resiliency, connectivity, technology and well-being. As the mixed-use district completes its highly anticipated first phase of development, SPP will unveil two public art installations that were commissioned to anchor the 56-acre neighborhood. The installations, created by San Francisco-based artist Jim Campbell and London-based art and design firm Jason Bruges Studio, will be large-scale focal points at Water Street Tampa, enjoyed by all residents, employees and guests who visit the neighborhood.
Public art is integral to Water Street Tampa
“Public art provides thoughtful experiences that everyone can enjoy; the works we have selected for Water Street Tampa create unique opportunities for the community to engage,” said Lee Schaffler, Chief Portfolio Officer of SPP.
Known for his animated LED artwork and public art projects throughout the country, celebrated artist Jim Campbell is bringing a new installation titled Three Arcs to Water Street Tampa, through SPP’s partnership with the University of South Florida (USF), Lights on Tampa and the City of Tampa. Three Arcs will be located in Raybon Plaza, a new public gathering space adjacent to Thousand & One, the neighborhood’s recently opened trophy office building, and the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute. The installation will feature three seven-foot-tall curved walls embedded with customized LED panels encased within cast glass panels, that project diffused abstracted imagery and emit patterns of light that slowly transform. Through its illuminated moving images, Three Arcs has been designed to evoke an emotional and contemplative response and provide a meditative viewing experience that works within the plaza’s lush landscaping and serene setting.
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“I’m very excited to see Three Arcs in its final setting – in particular how the sculpture, with its rusted steel and glass, will act as a bridge between the landscaped plantings and the geometric pedestrian pathways and nearby architecture,” said Jim Campbell. “I’m looking forward to exploring multiple concepts for the interwoven triptych of images, which can only be finalized with the sculpture in situ.”
A light installation coming to the Water Street Marriott
Jason Bruges Studio, the lauded international art and design studio, is making its Tampa debut by bringing a site-specific light installation to the pedestrian skybridge connecting the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street and Tampa Marriott Water Street. Inspired by Tampa’s brackish marine environment and the idea that flourishing ecologies and cultures are stimulated by dialogue, diversityand interaction,the artwork Halocline Sky features a matrix of digital rings enlivened by responsive animations. Jason Bruges Studio is widely known for blending architecture with interactive design, and the bespoke installation uses a real-time simulation to create a playful, interactive canvas that spans the length of the 200-foot skybridge. The activity happening both within and below the bridge, such as pedestrians and passing vehicles, generates and informs a choreography of light. The ongoing interaction offers a nod to Tampa’s unique ecosystem and historic port as sites of exchange.
“We are thrilled to present our first artwork in Tampa,” said Jason Bruges. “SPP has really supported our creative journey, giving us the opportunity to develop a piece that reflects the lively character of the city. Halocline Sky uses technology and storytelling to respond to Tampa’s rich natural and urban ecosystems. It’s a fun, engaging artwork that we hope will be a timeless source joy for the local community and visitors.”
SPP is working with a wide range of local, national and international artists to add to its vibrant streetscape. A number of works are already on display throughout Water Street Tampa. They include WATERFRONTIER by Ya Levy La’ford, All the Mornings of the World by Bosco Sodi and You Belong Here by Tavares Strachan. The district’s art scene will continue to flourish with the unveiling of murals by Pep Rally Inc., Leon Keer, Stephen Palladino and Dyan Mierzwinsku. A striking immersive installation by British artist Lucy Sparrow will debut at 1050 Water Street early next year. The building’s retail space will host Tampa Fresh Foods, a supermarket crafted from Sparrow’s signature felt artwork, beginning in January.
Transforming 56 acres in the city of Tampa
SPP’s focus on art also extends to its own offices at Sparkman Wharf. The company is participating in the USF Contemporary Art Museum’s Corporate Partnership Program, enabling SPP to exhibit a selection of curated, rotating artworks in its office for employees to enjoy. All proceeds from the program support the museum’s exhibitions and programs.
One of the largest mixed-use real estate developments currently under construction in the United States, Water Street Tampa is transforming 56 contiguous acres into a balanced urban experience that connects Downtown Tampa to the city’s long-underutilized waterfront. The neighborhood is introducing nine million square feet of new commercial, residential, hospitality, entertainment, cultural, retail and educational spaces within a dynamic, comprehensively planned neighborhood oriented around acres of public green space and an innovative pedestrian-oriented streetscape.
To learn more about Water Street Tampa, please visit their website.
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