BEACON SCULPTURE

Gyroscope won this international competition for a public art piece at Abbott Square. The goal was to activate the public plaza serving as the entrance to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH) and to draw people in from the street.  

 

The centerpiece of our design is BEACON, an overhead array of bright red fishing buoys, a tribute to Santa Cruz’s history as a fishing port. The buoys are arranged in a quarter circle, while the facades of two adjacent buildings are covered in mirrors cerating an illusion of a full circle floating overhead. The installation is a powerful beacon and icon for the Museum and the community.  Since BEACON opened, the previously under-utilized Abbott Square has come to life as a vibrant gathering place for people, activities and special events.