Spiral Motion III

Twisting and turning without movement, Spiral Motion III’s rolled steel abstract graces the Plaza courtyard of the Firehouse Arts Center, 4444 Railroad Ave. While fixed in design, the patina abstractly defies gravity and conveys motion frozen in time. The sculpture is 6 ‘high, 2’3” in width, and 2’1” in depth with a ribbon of steel lacing the main column, swirling balls into infinity.

The sculpture was privately funded through Another Harrington Art Partnership Piece for You (H.A.P.P.Y) in partnership with the Loll Family and installed in 2011.  Gary and Nancy Harrington saw this sculpture at the Laguna Beach Arts Festival and were struck by the gravity-defying artistry of Jon Seeman’s work.

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.

Seeman’s apprentice background and schooling set him on a path toward steel artistry. All forms of steel construction were investigated – patina coated, polished, powder coated, acrylic polyurethane, Cor-ten, and enamel. Steel’s structural integrity allowed Seeman to press the limits of composition and play with implied motion. Jon Seeman has won numerous prestigious art awards. 

His sculptures appear in several California cities, as well as Nevada, Massachusetts, and Japan. Jon Seeman created Arc Suspension which was installed in 2017 at the front of the Cultural Arts Center on 4477 Black Avenue, Pleasanton. Venture over to Black Avenue to see his polished steel artwork.  It is an eye-catching sculpture across the street from the U.S. Post Office on Black Ave.

Jan Coleman-Knight