Creative Genius was created as part of the Developer’s requirement by the City of Sarasota’s Public Art Program. I was contracted to do the work by Mark Kaufman and his partners, one of whom was the project architect, Jonathan Parks. The development is called Rosemary Square in the Rosemary District. The tenants are all cultural organizations aside from some retail and restaurants. Thus my work is titled “Creative Genius” in honor of those creative groups.
My work began at the planning stage of the project. I produced a series of sketches, each with a contemporary approach in my style but each with a unique aesthetic. After much discussion and it was settled upon to use a figurative element. Then that design was refined until a sculpture model was produced for the client’s approval. This project was also approved by the City of Sarasota’s Public Art Advisory Board.
The fabrication photos show the bulky rings cut from 3″ thick aluminum, and the figure was all fabricated by hand with bends and shapes that made up the body shapes, then tig welded together. The figure was powder-coated red, contrasting nicely with the natural color of the burnished and textured aluminum circles.
Virginia Hoffman worked closely with the architect and the landscape designer, all under the watchful eye of Mr. Kaufman. All details we carefully planned and with full approval prior to execution of fabrication.
Finally, the day to install the finished sculpture arrives, but not without all involved parties and even city bureaucrats giving final applause to “The Creative Genius.”
