Shea Homes, landscape architect C2 Collaborative and marketing and design firm Gauger + Associates has brought together a group of local, national and international artists, designers and craftspeople. The art on public display will communicate a coastal narrative, connecting with the natural oceanside environment while embracing the rich history of the area.
Breathtaking Large-Scale Murals
The underwater seascape will be from the perspective of a diver looking toward the surface from the floor of Monterey Bay. Working from a photo illustration by David Gauger — in close collaboration with avid scuba diver and Divemaster, Hofer — the scene will be hyper-realistic, capturing the diversity and abundance of the aquatic environment in the Peninsula’s local waters.
It includes a kelp forest along with various local species of fish from giant sea bass to sheepshead and rock cod, sardines and anchovies, as well as others. The important but fragile balance of the Marine environment is represented by a sunflower star and purple sea urchins. There will even be a subtle nod to local history with a glimpse of a US Army amtrac (amphibious tractor) vehicle that plunged to the cool depths off the coast near The Dunes when the Army’s 727th Amphibian Tractor Battalion was stationed at Fort Ord between 1943 and 1944.
“Shea has been wonderful to work with,” says Jeremy Vanderkraats, owner of Signs by Van. “We’ve relied quite a bit on Don Hofer, who has a keen eye for what he wants to see in the murals. He emphasized how important it was to ensure that the underwater scene will be accurate.”
The art is being created by painter Dong Sun Kim, whose connection with Signs by Van goes back decades after he emigrated to the U.S. in the late 70s from his native South Korea. Mr. Kim met Jeremy’s father, Phil Vanderkraats, who had started the sign company right in Marina in his one-car garage.
Sculpting Homages to the Sea
Portland sculptor Ivan McLean has worked with Shea for a number of years on sculptures in other communities, before being asked to design seven stainless steel sculptures for Promenade at the Dunes.
McLean grew up at the Point Reyes seashore in Marin County and attended college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, so he was thoroughly familiar with the draw of the California coastline.
“I worked closely with David Gauger and C2 Collaborative to create shapes that would tie into or suggest ocean themes,” comments McLean. “One piece is a wave at the Promenade, but others are suggestive of kelp, sea urchins and so on.”
The sculptures all use high-grade SAE 316L stainless steel, which is beautiful in the way it catches and reflects light in its natural swirls. Initial discussions for the project began two years ago, so it’s been a long and involved process to create the compelling art.
Commercial Opportunities Remain Available at the Promenade
Leasing has been brisk within Promenade at the Dunes’ seven commercial buildings totaling 32,685 sq. ft., but a few well-located units remain available for businesses that move quickly. Suites range from 800 sq. ft. to 5,500 sq. ft. (some with attached patios).
Key Benefits
- Ideal for retailers, restaurants, professional offices and medical/dental practices
- Located within a live-work-play community as part of Shea Homes’ The Dunes on Monterey Bay and other local residential developments with over 1,900 homes, townhomes, condos and apartments recently built — plus more than 4,500 on the way
- Other nearby demand generators include California State University Monterey Bay; Fort Ord National Monument and the Marina shopping center featuring major retailers
- Ideal transportation access via Highway 1 and Imjin Parkway to other Monterey Peninsula locations and the Salinas Valley
10th St. and General Stilwell Drive
Marina, CA 93933
For more information, contact:
- Ralph Borelli, Borelli Investment Company • 408-453-4700 x117 • BRE License #00465691
- Michael Schoeder, Cushman & Wakefield • 831-647-2105 • BRE License #00989268
