Why mark a milestone anniversary with public installations? SCA Executive Director Kristin Armstrong says that deliberately placing art in public sites makes the installations available to everyone – a form of collective community expression. “Public art is a reflection of how we see the world. It can be part of our public history, part of our evolving culture and our collective memory. It can reflect and reveal us – our values, what’s important to us, what we love.” 

In fact, Spaces for Discovery was designed with the concept of “art for all” at its core. “It’s important to us to use materials that are accessible to anyone,” says Jason, a New York-based Installation Artist, Teacher, and Theatrical Production Designer. “We find materials at the hardware store that require nothing more than a drill and a paintbrush… then we string them together. Anyone can do this.”

Barnett, an Installation Artist, Scenic Designer, and Theater Professor at Oakland University, describes the sculptures as “physicalizing the play of a child.” Jeremy finds inspiration from watching his children play in these spaces. “If my children are skipping across the field, then there’s a good chance that the sculpture is going to be following in their footsteps,” he says.