From the initial community visioning, every EYA neighborhood is built with a holistic approach to not only provide new homes, but also with an eye towards enduring design, placemaking and connecting residents with each other and their community. This may be done in various ways, such as including unique art installations that help to create the identity of a neighborhood, add visual interest and provide a sense of place.
Creating community identity & a sense of place
At EYA's Farmstead District community in Rockville, MD, an array of historically-inspired artwork has been curated as a nod to the site's history as a working farmstead. The first artwork to be installed is a beautiful stained-glass windmill at the center of the community adjacent to the Barn (the central gathering space featuring a seasonal pool, clubroom, outdoor seating and more).
The colorful windmill, created by artist Tom Fruin, serves as both as a landmark for the community and a reminder of the unique history of the site, combining form, function and history. EYA’s Senior Vice President of Development, Jason Sereno, noted, "It is important to EYA that artwork doesn’t just decorate a space but helps to define it."
In the early stages of selecting artwork for the community, the team decided on a theme inspired by all things farm related. Jason added, “A portion of the historic farmstead remains, owned by the City of Rockville, and we wanted this neighborhood to still feel connected to it. This guiding farm theme shaped the overall aesthetic of the community and ensures that Farmstead District will feel like an extension of its neighbor and history. And that very much was the driver of the artwork we selected.”
EYA engaged with two art consultants (Artists Circle Fine Arts and Brody Art Concepts), who presented a host of different art styles. Once the preferred style was selected, the consultants then showcased a variety of artists working in that particular style. Jason said, "It's a very iterative process, but it's also very enjoyable and rewarding to see the pieces come to life and help create a sense of place for our communities.” He added:
"When we saw the work of artist Tom Fruin, we immediately knew the windmill was going to be the signature piece of art at Farmstead District. The stained glass windmill took the obvious farm theme, and put a fun and colorful spin on it, while allowing us to create something that could be a showcase piece located in view of many sight lines around the neighborhood. The windmill is an eye-catching symbol bridging past to present in a meaningful way.”
- Jason Sereno, EYA’s Senior Vice President of Development
The artistic process
Artist Tom Fruin is a Brooklyn-based contemporary sculptor known for his large-scale installations, most commonly using steel and brightly colored plexiglass. He is passionate about creating art that is publicly accessible and sustainable, often working with reclaimed materials. His work is showcased throughout the U.S. and internationally, and now at the Farmstead District community. We asked Tom a few questions about his inspiration for the windmill art, process and more.
What was your approach to creating the windmill art at Farmstead District?
The complicated patchwork design incorporates the patterning from a quilt so it's derived from the idea that a greater whole can be made from lots of random scraps. The many colors and types of acrylic further enhance this concept—some pieces were even salvaged. There is a variety of different sizes to the linework and I made sure that there are a few surprises on each side of the art piece to encourage the viewer to walk around and see the entire sculpture!
What types of materials did you use?
For the blade and gear assembly, we used an actual Aeromotor Windmill. We incorporated the cross braces into the design and used the voids as frames to hold the artwork panels. Each panel is a laser cut 3/16 inch thick steel sheet which holds the 1/4 inch plexiglass pieces in various colors and opacities. After ensuring that everything fit properly, we sandblasted, applied zinc, and then powder-coated the steel to achieve a weather-proof black satin sheen.
What is your artistic process for creating an installation such as this?
I work with a great team and we made a few digital models to determine the most appropriate size for the grass covered plaza. I was then able to wrap the structure with the design and adjust the scale to my liking. I hand drew the colors on the paper printouts so I knew exactly what were were getting, again making sure that the colors evolved depending on which side you face so it has a more dynamic appearance on all four sides.
Were there any particular challenges with this project?
The piece is very large which always presents unique challenges for fabrication and installation. Thankfully, the team at Artist Circle Fine Arts worked to ensure we had a clear communication with EYA and that the concrete foundations poured in advance were correctly oriented and fit perfectly to the platform. We used a crane to attach the windmill to the top of the base and employed stick ladders and a bucket truck to lock the artwork panels into position.
When people see your artwork, what do you hope it evokes in them?
"Windmills are commonplace in the surrounding ranches and communities but are becoming less ordinary in contemporary settings. My hope is that placing this colorful stain-glass sculpture in a residential setting helps people see their surrounding with a fresh perspective while being cognizant of the history of the area."
- Tom Fruin, Artist
Learn more about Tom and his artwork on his website and instagram.
More to come
The windmill is the first artwork installed in the community with more to come, including several fun farm animal pieces around the children's playground, frog sculptures to go near a stormwater pond feature and colorful metal panels with four distinct farm-inspired images stacked on top of each other. Jason noted, "Each of these laser cut metal panels will be a different color and act as a wayfinding element to various features around the site. We found this to be a very creative way to use art in our placemaking. The colorful and playful nature of all the art pieces tie them together, while all pieces adhere to the farm theme.”
The artwork at Farmstead District adds visual interest the community while seamlessly blending in with the overall design aesthetic and historical significance, enhancing the community identity for many years to come.
Click here to learn more about the Farmstead District community.
