By The Letter

As darkness approaches, whimsical letters bounce light atop the roof of the Firehouse Arts Center at 4444 Railroad Ave and beckon attendance at performances in music, poetry, theater, comedy, film, and more. Adjacent to the Lions Wayside Park, the 1888 historical volunteer fire department has been converted to a 20,000 sq ft. building, 221-seat theater, and a 2,000 sq ft. Harrington’s Art Gallery.  Blacksmith artist Jill Turman envisioned a vibrant center. The letters spelling out “Firehouse Arts Center” embrace 27 ft of room top; each letter is 18 inches tall and 4 inches in depth. The letters are forged steel, the same texture as Turman’s red Spiral bicycle rack artwork in front of the Center.  The back layers of the letters are abraded stainless steel.  The swirl patterns on the letters make the light bounce when the sign is lit. Colored rope lights between the two layers of steel illuminate the lettering and announce a warm celebratory mood.

During the day the Firehouse Arts Center marque font is a joyful wink. Notice the “O” and its happy curl. The unique font announces an invitation to attend the Harrington’s Art Gallery or perhaps engage in an art class in the 1,800 sq. ft. classroom upstairs space. It is the same font used on her artwork Chorus on the entry wall to the center.

Jill Turman is the owner of Bella Ironworks in Alameda, CA.  As a young blacksmith, Jill did not shy away from her ambitious proposal for the Memphis Cooper-Young Trestle to convert 8 tons of metal to span 150’ of an abandoned railway trestle. She conquered the challenge, just as she has mastered the four graceful artworks that adorn the Firehouse: By The Letter, Chorus, Spiral, and Entwine.

The Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council created a non-profit Pleasanton Cultural Arts Foundation soliciting 2.5 million dollars of public and private contributions in addition to the 10 million the Pleasanton City Council eventually authorized for the complex.

Jan Coleman-Knight