Local sculptor lands commission for “the biggest public art commission of my career”

“Excited to announce that I’ve been selected to do the biggest public art commission of my career today! A large-scale sculptural work depicting a 16 foot long sockeye salmon, integrating visual and material elements that reflect CityFleet’s essential role in supporting the City of Portland. Sockeye salmon inhabit the Willamette River near Swan Island and serve as a powerful witness to the site’s layered history—from Indigenous presence to wartime shipbuilding to contemporary municipal infrastructure. The salmon represents continuity, resilience, and ecological responsibility, reminding us of our deep connections and obligations to the natural world.

“The sculpture will incorporate fabricated and reclaimed mechanical elements that directly reference the work performed at the CityFleet maintenance facility. A stylized Portland skyline—composed of recognizable landmarks—will be carried along the back of the salmon, while a cutaway interior reveals the hidden systems and labor that keep the city functioning. This composition makes visible the often-unseen work of CityFleet staff, positioning their contributions as foundational to the vitality of Portland.

“The sculpture presents a dual narrative of infrastructure and ecology. It reflects the reality that Portland has grown along the banks of the Willamette River, in a place where salmon have lived for thousands of years. This public art concept acknowledges and respectfully references the deep cultural and ecological relationships Indigenous communities have with salmon and the river, while recognizing that these histories are ongoing and significant.

“Paralleling the lifecycle of the salmon—birth, migration, return, and renewal—the sculpture reflects the evolution of transportation technologies within CityFleet. We are currently in a critical transitional phase, moving from fossil fuel systems toward cleaner, renewable energy solutions. The sculpture frames this shift not as an endpoint, but as part of an ongoing cycle of adaptation and innovation.”