Giant Spinning Rocks Installed In Jean Sweeney Park

Press release from the City of Alameda:

ALAMEDA, CA — A Rockspinner is a multi-ton boulder, engineered to safely, easily, and silently spin with a single push, compelling viewers to interact and explore while creating a sense of place and an opportunity for fun. The two interactive sculptures, named Ghost and Oumuamua, are situated between the restrooms and the zipline and adjacent to the pedestrian path, respectively.

“For over 20 years I have been taking large rocks and turning them into improbable playthings, a series I call Rockspinners. I am delighted to bring two of my latest to this lovely island I call home,” said Alameda-based artist Zach Coffin. “The story behind the creation of Jean Sweeney Park is an inspiring one of not accepting the given narrative. I hope these works, Ghost andOumuamua, inspire a re-thinking of gravity, friction and mass, as well as being unexpected and fun to play with. Thanks to the great folks at the City of Alameda that made this happen and tolerated the innumerable delays these past few years.”

Zach Coffin’s Rockspinners were selected by the Public Art Commission in 2018 following a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process and was funded primarily out of the Public Art Fund, with Alameda Recreation and Parks Department (ARPD) covering costs associated with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

“Zachary Coffin’s Rockspinners are a delightful synthesis of art, science, engineering, nature, and play, and a fitting addition to Jean Sweeney Open Space Park. As soon as they were installed children and adults started gleefully making multi-ton boulders spin like tops,” said Public Art Commission Chairperson Adam Gillitt. “The PAC is grateful to the artist for his interaction-provoking works and the wonder they will inspire for decades to come!”

This press release was produced by the City of Alameda. The views expressed here are the author’s own.