Port of San Diego and Consul General of Mexico Unveil “Our Silences” Art Exhibit
A monumental temporary public art exhibit is now on display on the waterfront of San Diego Bay. “Our Silences,” by the Mexican artist Rivelino, was officially unveiled January 29, 2015 at Ruocco Park near downtown San Diego.Port of San Diego Board Chairman Dan Malcolm joined City of San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, Consul General of Mexico in San Diego Remedios Gomez Arnau, Director of Mexico Tourism Board San Diego Alejandro Santander and “Our Silences” artist Rivelino in the unveiling ceremony.
The artwork consists of 10 large bronze figures, each standing 11 ½-feet tall and weighing approximately one ton. Each figure has a metal plate covering its mouth, representing the importance of freedom of expression.
“Our Silences” also features a 6 ½-foot tall steel cube called a “Braille box,” which contains smaller scale models of the sculptures that people can touch and feel through openings in its sides.
“The Port of San Diego is extremely honored to host the temporary installment of “Our Silences” on the tidelands,” said Chairman Malcolm. “This artwork will draw residents and visitors to the waterfront to enjoy a world-class public art experience and to discover the many wonderful amenities and attractions along San Diego Bay.”
The artwork has been exhibited in 14 countries, including Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and Mexico. This is the first time that it has been exhibited in the United States.
“Our Silences” will be on display at Ruocco Park until approximately April 15, 2015. It is sponsored by the Port of San Diego, the Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego, the Foreign Ministry of Mexico, the Mexico Tourism Board, Aeromexico and Wells Fargo.
About the Port:
The Port of San Diego is a unified district encompassing five member cities surrounding San Diego Bay. A public agency, the Port is charged by the State of California with developing the tidelands and commercial business as steward of the public-trust tidelands along 34 miles of San Diego Bay. We share the waterfront with the Navy, which oversees 17 miles of San Diego Bay.
We operate under the Public Trust Doctrine, which specifies that these waterways and waterfronts are primarily reserved for water-dependent uses such as fishing, cargo activity, bay tours and recreational access such as hotels and restaurants; as well as environmental and natural-habitat preservation.
We have guided the development of this prime waterfront property with a carefully selected portfolio of world-class commercial real estate, maritime and public uses. Our 16 hotels, 25 marinas, numerous restaurants, tours and museum attractions operate side-by-side with a working waterfront of boatyards, sportfishing landings and marine cargo terminals. We also maintain 20 public parks as amenities that attract visitors and enhance the value of our waterfront.
