View of both sculptures at night
In 2018, the City of Saint Petersburg, Florida commissioned a two-piece sculptural project to celebrate its new police department headquarters. As a local artist whose efforts and heart remain loyal to his city, Mark won the project and completed it in 2019.
On the building’s interior, he created Shielded, a 30-foot aluminum wing that hangs from the atrium to welcome visitors as they enter the station. Outside, the 22-foot gladiolus blossom represents the role of the law enforcement in the community: its petals symbolize the police that protect with honor and integrity, while the mirrored sphere on its interior represents the community they serve.
Side view of Shielded in the Police Department lobby
236 individual feathers comprise the eagle wing that flies high above the entry to the building, embodying comfort and protection.
Detail of the feathers
Shielded specs:
Medium: Aluminum
Dimensions: 30'L x 15'W x 10'D
Weight: 2,000 pounds
Completed: 2019
MGA worked closely with the Saint Petersburg Police Department to design this piece as a testament to the city for years to come. The pieces were designed while the department was under construction, so MGA had to work with a multitude of architects, construction managers, builders, and engineers to incorporate the sculptures with the rest of the building to be ready for the grand opening. At the end of the day, the piece was successful in embodying the values of the department and honoring the first responders.
Behind The Scenes
The MGA crew installing ‘Shielded’ 17' in the air
Behind The Scenes
Creating public art often involves lengthy project timelines, from pitch to concept development, proposal, engineering, fabrication and install.
Take a peek at the progress behind each MGA project.