Common Ground

Common Ground combines a passive area with a passage. The design is composed of a lattice of indigenous red sandstone bollards covering approximately a 60 foot area. A length of the sidewalk and an area of the grass/paved area beneath existing trees are encompassed within this square. A seemingly random arrangement of gray limestone boulders penetrates the lattice. Notches are cut into several of the natural stones to accept the square seating bollards. The lattice, in a sense,
is superimposed over the boulders. It was the artist’s intent that the indigenous limestone boulders appear as if they were there all along, as if they were part of the original geology. The relationship of bollards with boulders, grass, trees and paving is to provide a number of active and passive spaces. Along the sidewalk the bollards function as a gentle barrier through which one can pass into a more passive seating/study area. Within the passive area a choice of hard and soft edge / landscape as well as a variety of sitting, people watching, study and conversation situations are created.

View more from the Utah Public Art Program here: https://artsandmuseums.utah.gov/public-art-collection/