Feature Details

Name: Ohlone Woman

Description: The courtyard artwork is a life size image of a native Californian: an Ohlone woman in a tulle reed boat. For the artist this image honors the roots of our humanity and those who lived here in a world of unimaginable natural beauty.The bronze sculpture is 6’ x 7’-5” x 2’-5”(h x w x d). The bas-relief supporting the boat depicts a visual narrative of the history of the local region and of California. The images depicted on the bas-relief represent an integrated view across time:Landscape depicting the area pre-European settlement: oak trees, hills, a stream, a view to the distant ocean, and native flora and fauna including poppies, lupine, redwood trees, deer and birdsIn the view to the ocean bay is a Spanish Galleon signaling their arrival to the regionCircling around the front is a packing mule and miner, referencing the quicksilver mines and the Gold Rush eraThe miner stands on a precipice overlooking an orchardIn the far right there is a highway that curves away taking the viewers eye to a cityscape of the modern San José regionThe visual narrative ends with an image of a young woman gazing at a computer screen.