Date: 09/03/2009
Contact:
Pat Lopes Harris, SJSU Media Relations, 408-924-1748
SAN JOSE, Calif., -- The David and Lucille Packard Foundation and Bank of America have provided a total of $107,500 for the Climate Clock Initiative, a project under development by San José State University in collaboration with the San José Office of Cultural Affairs and Public Art Program, and the Montalvo Art Center.
The Climate Clock will weave together San José's culture of technological innovation with art and climate data, creating a signature work of public art for Silicon Valley. The work will help measure climate change, make the process more visible, and engage and inspire individuals to personally explore and modify their carbon footprints.
"The Climate Clock project will form a significant gateway to downtown San José, symbolizing the city's importance as Silicon Valley's urban center, as well as the region's commitment to innovation and sustainability," said Barbara Goldstein, San José public art director.
The Climate Clock initiative reflects commitments made by San José State President Jon Whitmore and San José Mayor Chuck Reed to make sustainability a hallmark of their tenures. Other stakeholders include the San Jose Redevelopment Agency, ZER01 and 1stACT Silicon Valley.
Funding from the Packard Foundation ($82,500) and Bank of America ($25,000) will enable the Climate Clock Initiative to develop programming during 2009-2010 in support of three prospective design teams selected from 44 international submissions. These artist-led teams will prepare second-stage concept designs. Together, San José State University, San José Public Art Program and 1stACT Silicon Valley have contributed over $150,000 in support of the Climate Clock Initiative to date.
The site for the Climate Clock will be the San José Diridon Station. Caltrain, AMTRAK, light rail and buses serve Diridon. In the future, BART and high speed rail will also stop there, which will make the station the largest ground transportation hub in Northern California. Built in 1935 and restored in 1994, the station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
"We are very grateful to both the Packard Foundation and Bank of America, whose early stage leadership on the Climate Clock Initiative will serve to support this next critical phase of the design competition," said Joel Slayton, ZER01 executive director.
A site of this caliber encourages artists to focus their research, ultimately leading to improved design strategies. The Packard and Bank of America funding will provide the teams with the support they need to engage with Diridon Station architects, city planners, the project's science and technology advisory team, stakeholders and San José State student interns.
The second-phase concept designs will be publically showcased at the third 01SJ Biennial in September 2010. During the 2010-2011 academic year, each team will be in residency for three months to further research and develop final their strategies from which an international jury will select the final Climate Clock design.
San José State -- Silicon Valley's largest institution of higher learning with 30,000 students and 5,700 employees -- is part of the California State University system. SJSU's 154-acre downtown campus anchors the nation's 10th largest city.
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