ORCHID FOR PUBLIC ART & ONION FOR PUBLIC ART

Jury Comments: This project - nominated for both an Orchid and an Onion – caused a heated debate amongst the jurors.  They commended the artist, Neal Bociek, for his creativity, whimsy and his willingness to find an artful solution to concealing our urban “shiny metal boxes.” Landsailers is an exemplary exhibit of ten fanciful air, land and sea vehicles that create a coastal art trail which unifies several La Jolla and Pacific Beach neighborhoods.
However, for the Arts Commission, the jury has bestowed an Onion for misdirecting such great talent and artistry for the mundane purpose of hiding utility boxes.  Our thought is that Landsailers sculptures would be more appreciated if they were prominently displayed in a different manner. It’s sort of like tattooing a flower around a wart on your nose.

"Landsailers" is a temporary exhibit of ten sculptures throughout San Diego’s Pacific Beach and La Jolla neighborhoods. As part of the City of San Diego’s installation of water pollution management utilities, local artist Neal Bociek created ten “Landsailers,” whimsical assemblages of air, land and sea transportation vehicles. The sculptures are integrated into the beach environment and aesthetically and conceptually connect each utility box to its specific neighborhood location and to all the other utility boxes creating a coastal art trail that can be followed from La Jolla to Pacific Beach. The temporary exhibition of "Landsailers" will be on view for approximately five years.

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