A resident of Tucson, Arizona, Barbara Grygutis has over 20 years of experience working in collaborative situations to create environmental works that give meaning and identity to public spaces. She has completed projects throughout the United States. including large-scale works in Arizona, Colorado, and New Jersey. Barbara’s approach to the creation of a work of art is to embody a universal theme accessible to all age groups and to create a sense of timelessness and beauty in the built environment.

This gateway creates a welcoming entry “arbor” along the pedestrian path from the sidewalk to the Library’s main entrance. The curved sculptural units are fabricated with perforated metal on a metal armature. Within each arch exists a world of floating books, disks, computers, and plant forms made of cast aluminum. These forms symbolize the merging of the natural world with the world of the mind. As evening falls, the arches are lit from within, creating an illuminated walkway.

“The form of the gateway I created for the Santa Clara City Library is inspired by the delicate motion created from the turning of a page. The soft light from within the arbor structures creates a magical sense of space. These arched forms are inspired by the concept of illuminated manuscripts. The illuminated page is a central theme to the work of art.”

Largest arch: 16’ x 15’ x 3’ Stainless steel & cast aluminum 2004