Seagrass and Lily
- Artist: May + Watkins Design
- Material Used: Stainless-Steel Mesh, Concrete, Glass Bead Coating, Rubber, Mosaic Work
- Location: City View Park
“Seagrass and Lily” is a multi-sensory piece, evoking whimsy and joy, inviting families and children to interact through hands-on exploration. The piece is designed to be a welcoming signature piece of City View Park, helping define the park’s identity and serve as a gathering space. The piece, located near the basketball courts and playground at the front of City View Park, is easily visible when entering the park.
There are multiple interactive features throughout the installation. The layout begins with “Lizzie,” a large stainless-steel mesh and concrete lizard figurine with mosaic work on top suitable for kids and adults to play on and/or sit.
Moving to the middle brings us to “Seagrass,” a tactile assembly of rubber hose pieces designed to accommodate those with low vision, and for kids to simulate hiding under the sea. Surrounding “Seagrass” is a set of speaker ports, where people can talk to each other through a tube, much like the old days of using a tin can telephone. Additionally, this part of the artwork features two pieces that function as seats.
Lastly, the back of the installation is “Lily,” a blooming floral artwork, and three surrounding lily pads, creating a place for children to play and adults to sit and relax. The lily pads were created using the same type of stainless-steel mesh and concrete with mosaic work as “Lizzie.”
Concerned about the piece getting too hot to play on in the summer? May + Watkins Design kept this in mind and used a special microscopic glass bead coating on “Seagrass and Lily,” which reflects sunlight, allowing the artwork to stay cooler to the touch.
About the Artist
May + Watkins Design designs and builds unique, site-specific sculptures. Their portfolio includes signature sculptures for parks and buildings, amenities including benches, bollards and shade structures, bus shelters and way-finding elements. They use a related vocabulary to create extraordinary climb-on structures that function as play spaces and as artworks. Each project is one of a kind, created just for the client, site-specific, and a marriage of art and play.
May + Watkins Designs ensures nothing gets lost in the translation from drawings and models to the finished product. Each person on the design and production team is a skilled craftsperson with an ingrained sense of artistry, and a mandate to create excellent, extraordinary work. Each show is special and important. and a chance to explore and shine in a different arena.
