On Wednesday, July 19th, Gordon joined Fresno’s Council Member Oliver Baines of District 3 and his team in order to to introduce his artwork proposal for the reactivated Mariposa located in downtown Fresno. The meeting was an opportunity for the community of Fresno to meet Gordon and hear more about his concept development, approach and vision for the newly revitalized plaza.

Gordon’s conceptual design entitled ‘Papel Picado’ creates a direct connection to the historical and cultural environment of Fresno. The artwork design addresses the need to create a space that is suitable for special events as well as every day use. It is playful, vibrant and engages children as well as adults to interact, explore and enjoy the space.

‘Papel Picado’ is inspired by the traditional Mexican folk art with the same name. The elaborate, colored paper-cut pennant designs are used for a broad variety of festivities. The celebratory context of the buntings is a perfect foundation for an artwork design that aims to create a pleasant and welcoming, multi-purpose community gathering space.

The installation invites and attracts visitors and locals alike, sparks intrigue and fosters an engaging, creative, and communal environment. The oversized pennants are made of water-jet-cut, powder-coated metal and cast intricate shadows as the sun moves and passes them throughout the day, which adds a great dynamic to the installation.

The concept design is still in its beginning stages and Gordon will – with the feedback and input from the community – refine the current outline in the coming weeks.

The plaza enhancement and redesign as well as the community engagement process will be overseen by the urban design firm Wallace Roberts & Todd (WRT) in collaboration with local designers at Valley Water Wise and Urban Diversity Design. Other significant partners for this activation project include the Fresno Art Museum, Fresno Arts Council, Downtown Fresno Partnership, Creative Fresno, Univision, Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission and Fresno County Office of Education.

The Plaza is currently part of an activation project and Gordon’s artwork will be a substantial addition to its redesign. The $200,000 public art project is partially funded by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Gordon Unveils Mariposa Plaza Concepts: