Arc Suspension

Reflecting sunlight glances off a kinetic assemblage that holds visual interest from every angle. A steel ball balances precariously on a rod attached to an arc in front of the Cultural Arts Center on 4477 Black Avenue. Jon Seeman’s patterned and polished stainless-steel creation was built with exact mathematical proportions that seemingly defy gravity. The 10’ H x 4’W x 3’6” steel sculpture Arc Suspension was commissioned by the City of Pleasanton with partners Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council, Sandra Jellison, and Gary and Nancy Harrington.

Jon Seeman completed his first welded steel sculpture at age sixteen. His artistic family includes a mix of inventors, engineers, and artists, and his artistry was encouraged by his engineer father and his artist brother.  He attended the University of California, Irvine, and Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. He briefly left Laguna Beach, his place of birth in the 70s, and lived in New York while he apprenticed with several artisans. Two years later, he returned to Laguna Beach, California.

The structural integrity of steel has given Seeman the ability to create interactive compositions with a dynamic sense of suspension. “I design without regard to gravity which in turn provides me with the welcome challenges of fabrication.” Exact proportions and several mathematical calculations are inherent in the creative process.

Seeman’s sculptures have won an astounding number of First Places in art shows across the United States. His Public Arts Commissions attest to his far-ranging acclaim.  Jon’s sculptures appear in several California cities, as well as Nevada, Massachusetts, and Japan.  The City of Pleasanton can boast two sculptures. Venture over to see Spiral Motion III at the Firehouse Center Arts Center at 4444 Railroad Ave. Here you will see a ribbon of steel lacing the main column and swirling balls launching into infinity. Another sculpture of motion frozen in time.

Jan Coleman-Knight