Albus (Reflectivity of Light)

In alignment with the sunrise and sunset of the summer and winter solstices, “Albus” rises multi-stories high on three brushed and polished stainless steel legs. Adjacent to the Pleasanton Senior Center and the pivotal landmark of Centennial Park, the sculpture was designed to honor the passage of time.  A nine-pointed star cut from a shallow parabolic center plate sits atop the tall legs, tracing shadow and light. As the sunlight passes through the opening, the star’s image is cast on the surrounding surface acting as a sundial.

Sculptor Diana Pumpelly Bates reveals to us “the nature of time as the passage through which the universe steadily matures to its ancient rituals.”  The selection of the passing of time was a nod to its location next to the Senior Center. Landscape architect Stan Heacox designed the park based on solar alignment etching four spoke bricks indicating North (N), South (S) East (E), and West (W) on the surrounding base.  “If you count the brick bands, including the edging of the base, there are nine circles that go out from the sundial, joints or bands that radiate out from the edge of the sundial, representing the (then) nine planets.”  

The summer and winter solstice lines are flanked by accent trees to celebrate the solar events.  Heacox indicated “The summer rising and setting sun tree is southern magnolias, one of the few flowering summer trees on June 21, while the winter rising and setting sun are flanked by liquidambar, American sweet gum, which still has vibrant fall color on Dec. 21 when most other trees have dropped their leaves.”

“Albus” was commissioned by the City of Pleasanton for the new Senior Center at 5353 Sunol Blvd, and installed in 1998, years after the park was completed in 1994. Diana Pumpelly Bates is a sculptor and public artist working in bronze, iron, and steel. She has completed several public art commissions for transportation agencies in the Bay Area region and exhibited widely in local museums as well as the National Civil Rights Museum. “Albus” was the first commissioned piece of publicly funded art in Pleasanton.                                                                                                               

Jan Coleman-Knight