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Susana Arias Public Art : Santa Cruz Underpass

FINDING OUR PAST

I describe my work as primitive contemporary. 

Finding Our Past is a relief sculpture on both sides of the underpass at Porter St. and Bay Ave. exit off Hwy 1 in Santa Cruz, California. It represents an archaeological dig showing objects from the past of the towns of Soquel and Capitola. Susana’s ceramics replicated railroad tracks, whalebones, fishing nets, shovels, wagon wheels and many more objects from the past of these towns.

The project was contracted by Cal Trans and approved by the Santa Cruz County Arts Commission. It was completed in 1996 and won the Cal Trans Environs Enhancement Award in 1997.