Abundance
Ortega Branch Library, San Francisco, CA, 2010
Commissioned by the San Francisco Arts Commmission
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Wowhaus is creating a duo of large-scale, shimmering fish mosaic sculptures that take as their theme the concept of abundance. Uniquely sited within view of the Pacific Ocean, the Ortega Branch Library is a source of abundant knowledge, a place where people of all ages come to learn and grow. Likewise, the nearby ocean is a wellspring of sustenance, offering an abundance of resources for both humans and animals alike. These colorful , iridescent sculptures are icons of the abundance that lies both in the library and in the ocean beyond.

The 7' high fish sculpture at the entrway is symbolic of silver “Forage Fish”, a group of small fish species that are largely unnoticed, but are crucial to the ocean's vitality. Although tiny, these fish, including herring, grunion, and anchovies, actually play a vital role in the ecosystem. Swimming in large schools, forage fish are a vital food source for larger predator fish, marine mammals and sea birds; without them, the entire aquatic food chain will be in jeopardy. Forage fish symbolize the interdependence of all life forms, they remind us that seemingly small details in life are worthy of celebration and appreciation.

Also sited by the entryway will be a 5' long vibrant orange rockfish sculpture. Rockfish are solitary fish that lurk beneath rocky crags at the bottom of the ocean; San Francisco was the primary fishery for rockfish on the West Coast as late as 1887. These fish were a food source for the Ohlone who fished along these shores for thousands of years.