For my senior capstone project, I was presented with the amazing opportunity to work on a commission for the Kendall Frost Marsh Reserve located in San Diego, CA. With the construction of the reserve's new headquarters, they hoped to preserve the murals that once decorated the entire exterior of the original trailer site.
As Co-lead Designer, I worked alongside a group of fellow students to incorporate and preserve the original murals into the new building. The main piece we created was a series of seven canoes to be integrated within the upper facade of the field station. The implementation of canoes was inspired by both coastal themes and Mario Borja, who is the director of the Sakman Chamorro Project. Mario generously allowed us to work alongside him on the Sakman project, in addition to providing mentorship for this commission.
Using the corrugated aluminum sheets of the murals, we carefully constructed each canoe by hand. To preserve the significance and history of the murals, we researched and meticulously chose each panel that would be further displayed through the medium of the seven canoes. To ensure the longevity of these pieces, as they are to be displayed in a coastal environment, we put care into researching the correct sealants and materials that would withstand the degradations caused by ocean air.
The intention was hang the canoes to decorate along the upper facade of the building. Construction on the new field station started months after this project had been finished, and was finally completed in May 2024. Given the span of time, it is unsure what the marsh ultimately ended up doing with the canoes.
