The winning design project for SJMA’s first invitational competition, inspired by the forthcoming exhibition Hidden Heroes: The Genius of Everyday Things, is now on view. The Museum invited area design and architectural firms to submit proposals for a “pop-up” installation in the Museum’s café, with the challenge to use everyday objects in unexpected ways. The jury selected Whitney Polcyn Architects (WPA) of San Jose from seven submitted designs. The winning design celebrates the iconic, gem-style paperclip patented by William D. Middlebrook in 1899.
The pop-up installation, which goes on view to the public on September 24, presents an enormous photomontage of the silhouette of the classic paperclip. The image is embedded with photographs that depict the ways in which artists and hobbyists have creatively modified—or artistically coopted—the humble, common paperclip. A glistening curtain made of paper clips hangs from the ceiling and drape over the wall.
Silicon Valley’s creativity and spirit of underground innovation are legendary. This project is about the beauty of simple brilliance—and the vibrant intersection of art, design, engineering, and everyday life. WPA both embraced the intention of the project and also addressed the public flow and scale of the café space in an intriguing and unexpected way. In the process, the team created a delightful experience for visitors to the Museum and diners in the café. This project is the first such intervention in the historic, 1893 building, first built as a post office.
The paperclip is just one of the 36 everyday, industrially designed objects featured in Hidden Heroes, on view at SJMA October 17, 2013 – February 2, 2014. Jurors for the invitational were: David Asari, president of AIGA San Francisco and senior adjunct professor of design at California College of the Arts, San Francisco; Sarah Hluchan, Senior Strategist at Google Inc. and leader of arts and innovation initiatives at Google; Cathy Ho, contributing editor to Architect magazine and the founding editor-in-chief of The Architect’s Newspaper; and Kat Koh, curatorial assistant at San Jose Museum of Art and former curatorial assistant for the U.S. Pavilion at the 2012 Venice International Architecture Biennale. Entries were judged on strength of design; creative, surprising use, or rethinking of everyday objects; effective use of the space; visual impact; and appropriateness for SJMA.
ABOUT WPA
Located in the Silicon Valley, WPA provides interior architecture and design solutions to help companies thrive and deliver innovations that change the world. Helping to define environments for a 21st-century workforce, WPA’s award-winning designs and project management expertise create breakthrough solutions to challenging design issues to maximize client benefit. The company’s design abilities, coupled with extensive knowledge of architecture, materials and products, code and construction methods ensure clients receive a full spectrum of services for most any project. Known as valued partners, creative problem-solvers and environmentally-responsible designers, WPA has collaborated with a variety of companies to help move them to the next phase of growth and success, including Apple, Ariba, Bosch, Tibco, and Volkswagen. With the active ongoing direct supervision of WPA founders Steve Polcyn and David Whitney providing creative vision and senior project oversight, all work is strategic in nature and thoughtfully executed. For more information, please visit, www.whitneypolcyn.com.