What happens when engineers and artists get together?
Sculptures that can withstand 120 mile per hour hurricane force winds!
Coastal Engineering Company (CEC) is providing engineering consultations and drawings for the Hyannis HyArts Discovery Walk project by the Mid-Cape Cultural Council. The project includes design and installation of a series of interactive outdoor sculptures near and on the Hyannis waterfront. The Walk is intended to reflect the natural beauty of Hyannis Harbor and improve visitors’ and residents’ enjoyment of the harbor and downtown area, which comprise the Hyannis Arts District. The Walk activates the existing Walkway to the Sea with new outdoor sculptures designed to to be interactive and educational. The experience begins at Main Street on the beautiful village green then follows the wave-patterned brick path to Aselton Park and the waterfront, connecting the historic downtown area to the bustling waterfront with an opportunity to engage the senses.
CEC is working with local artists on three projects: See-Saw by Mary-Ann Agresti, Sun Compass by Thomas Huettner, and Turn Tern, Turn by Eric Kaiser. Sea Saw is an interactive boat/rocking bench sculpture, designed to encourage playing and relaxing by the Hyannis Harbor Walk. Sun Compass is human-scale wayfinder installation within Aselton Park landscape, to be made from used and reclaimed stone, new wood, and concrete. The artist's intention with this compass is to convey information through experiential interaction and visual reference and to promote the joy of discovery. And last but not least, Turn Tern, Turn is an elaborate turntable sculpture which depicts local birds cast in stainless steel.
Coastal Engineering is hopeful that our participation will enable the Mid-Cape Cultural Council to continue their efforts in activating the path to Hyannis Harbor with an interactive and educational sculpture walks. (Similarly in the past, CEC designed a foundation plan for "Tides" sculpture by Steve Kemp and a site plan for "Whale" sculpture by Sydney Ahlstrom for Creative Placemaking project by the Massachusetts Cultural Council Arts Program.)
