Fluke

Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center, Santa Cruz, CA • 2012

Designed as an homage to migrating whales along the California Coast, Fluke is an iconic sculpture in cast bronze at the entry to the NOAA Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center in Santa Cruz. The sculpture invites interaction with the public, evoking the feeling of an encounter in the wild with charismatic megafauna. To heighten the sense of encounter, Wowhaus also designed the pattern in the entryway’s cast concrete hardscape; undulating waveforms sparkle with recycled glass aggregate in sandblasted, pigmented concrete. The sculpture establishes a visual identity for the Center, reinforcing its goal of environmental awareness and conservation.

Wowhaus worked closely with the architect, landscape architect and staff oceanographers in developing the sculpture’s stylized form and realistic texture. Fluke’s patina will continually evolve with exposure to the saline air of Santa Cruz and the frequent touch of people visiting the Center.

Architecture: THA Architecture (Gold LEED )• Landscape Architecture: Walker Macy • Engineer: Tipping Mar • Bronze Casting: Artworks Foundry • Photography: Howard “Boots” McGhee • Concrete: Diamond D Concrete