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Winner is Announced of the Les Grube Memorial Design Award for 2020 - 2021
Buster Simpson, an artist from Seattle, Washington, has won the 2020 – 2021 Les Grube Memorial Design Award from the Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute. His design, Midden Mound Wickiups, is in Pearsall Park, San Antonio, Texas. The manufacturer of the project was Swan Fencing in Los Angeles, California.
“It is always an honor to be recognized by the trades and the mutual respect for creating something elegant from a common material,” Simpson says. “The Les Grube design award does the chain link industry a great service by encouraging thoughtful and unique designs. I am honored by the recognition and thank the Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute and Swan Fencing, the manufacturer of the chain link.”
The term “wickiup” refers to a simple, domed structure associated with Native Americans of the Southwest. Locally, the wickiup has been associated with tribes that have long vanished from San Antonio. The Kickapoo Tribe, with a Tribal Reservation in South Texas, continues the tradition for ceremonial purposes.
At Pearsall Park, both Wickiup Overloook and Wickiup Encampment have substituted the typical wickiup construction of bent or gathered branches with bent steel pipe, the blankets, which traditionally cover wickiups to protect against the elements, have been replaced with colorful woven wire mesh and geometric hexcell material. Solar panels supply power to nighttime lighting.
“I have no direct ties to Native Americans,” Simpson explains, “but in referring to the Wickiup of Kickapoo wickiup shade structures sitting atop a very large solid waste landfill, it seemed an interesting contrast to reference culture that lives light on the land and would be a good contrast for a world now facing rapid climate change. Also, the wickiup is a beautiful, yet simple structure to provide shade to a heating climate and the chain link material is an efficient and cost-effective way to create shade. The large chain link blankets with beautiful colors provide a dappled shaded area and a hangout for visitors long a popular trail near the top of the mound.”
The design process for this project began in 2014. “With most public art projects, the project starts with a selection process and a select number chosen then develop a proposal and a committee of peers select the artist. For this project, it was the San Antonio Public Art Commission. The process was completed in 2016,” Simpson says.
Materials used in the design include chain link and the bent pipe forms the structure. “The seating is made of local sandstone and resembles a large snake. It’s become a popular seating area,” he says.
Buster Simpson, artist and winner of the Les Grube Memorial Design Award for 2020 - 2021
Photos courtesy of Joe Freeman, Jr. The wickiups provide shaded gathering places, seating, and viewing experiences looking out over Lackland Air Force Base and the natural landscape along the meandering Leon Creek. Downtown San Antonio can be seen in the distance from the art structure.
He says the installation went according to plan. “My studio works in 3-D renderings so most issues are resolved prior to fabrication and installation. Like most designers and fabricators, I do not like surprises.”
Simpson attended the University of Michigan and received a Master of Fine Arts degree, then later the Distinguished Alumni Award in Architecture and Design. He is a recipient of numerous awards, among them are National Endowment of the Arts fellowships and the Americans for the Arts Public Art Award in 2009, and has completed numerous public commissions. To learn more of his work and accomplishments, visit www.bustersimpson.net.
Swan Fence, the manufacturer of the chain link, was chosen due to their ability to provide custom colors of chain link. Martha Velazquez with Swan Fence worked with Simpson on this project and says the custom color selection went smoothly. “He used some of our standard colors, but he also had certain custom colors he wanted to use in the design,” she says. “The process went well; we were able to meet his specifications on the first try. We’re very pleased with how the project turned out.”
With this award each year, CLFMI recognizes the designing architect and installing contractor of the project that is deemed to represent the most unique and practical way of incorporating chain link fencing materials. The award was established in 1984 during Les Grube’s term as CLFMI president. He was instrumental in outlining the award’s qualifications and establishing connections with the architectural community to support the concept. To view previous winners’ projects, visit www.chainlinkinfo.org.
