The Story Circle Sculpture Installed!

Announcing the completion of the Story Circle Sculpture:

Part of a competition based selection process, this project is a design collaboration with the Social Design Collective for a public art work in the City of Santa Ana California. The Story Circle Sculpture integrates community vision into the built landscape by establishing public space's function as a center point of community convergence. The design was part of a community-driven public practice created to engage both the client and the community in achieving responsible, sustainable, and mutually beneficial solutions. The goal was to create public art that is durable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing while implementing supplemental progressive cultural, art, and communal programs.

The concept of the story circle and its engagement with the neighborhood was conceived by Jules Rochielle, founder of The Social Design Collective. Designer Chad Clark of Defying Gravity Studio transformed the concept into a form inspired by seed pods, a symbol of growth and knowledge. The forms were sculpted to create a beautiful and intimate story circle seating area where the seeds of knowledge are planted as the story teller sits in the large chair while children from the neighbor sit, listen, and learn. Christina Sanchez, Artist, Educator, and Activist, worked to create a new supplementary arts curriculum benefiting 700 students at Garfield Elementary School which is located across the street from the Story Circle Sculpture and whose students have limited access to an arts education.



The Story Circle Sculpture is part of the Triada Court component of the new Station District public housing developed by Related California, Griffin Realty Corp., and Affordable Housing Access in cooperation with the City of Santa Ana. The residential development will provide high quality affordable housing for low-income large families under the city’s new Transit Zoning Code which promotes transit-oriented development in the area surrounding the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center. The Story Circle is located at street level and is viewable/accessible to the neighborhood and nearby Garfield Elementary School. The sculpture itself is a public seating arrangement of custom cast fiberglass set on a 7' diameter concrete and tile base. The fiberglass is infused with bronze powder giving it the look of real cast bronze at a fraction of the cost, while a bronze penny tile surface under the sculpture reinforces of the concept of seeds of knowledge. The final result was a durable, lightweight and cost effective solution which was easy to transport 
and install and will serve the neighborhood for years to come.


“The Triada Court is an excellent example of the City’s efforts to match beautiful housing options for our residents at an affordable price, which promotes our community’s vision and revitalizes the neighborhood. The inclusion of neighborhood retail, child care and public art features as part of the project also reflect the needs and desires of the community” -- Mayor Miguel Pulido


Special Thanks to:
Scott Callison, Callison Contrating - Vahik Kazarian, StoneArt Inc. (Fiberglass fabrication) - Tracy Caris, Ann Sacks (Tile supplier) - Tomoko Matsushita, Tphotography - Sandi Gottlieb, Program Manager, Community Development Agency - Linda DeLeon, Garfield Elementary School - Martin Gantman (Structural Engineer) - Marie Debor, Project Manager, Related California