Victory Park Public Art
The City of Stockton and Stockton Arts Commission executed an agreement with Artist James Moore to design, fabricate, and install an original large-scale artwork at Victory Park, located at 1001 N. Pershing Avenue in Central Stockton. The goal of the project is to:
- activate the northeast corner of the park,
- reflect the vibrancy and diversity of the community, and
- celebrate local history and the arts as represented in the nearby Haggin Museum.
This project will serve as a place of celebration for residents and a welcoming gateway into the city.
History & Background
Victory Park was given to the City of Stockton in 1914 by a land development firm and dedicated on June 15, 1916. Originally named Bienvenido Park, the name was changed to Victory Park after World War I.
In November 2016 and August 2017, the City held community engagement meetings in the Victory Park area to solicit potential themes for a new piece of public art to be placed at the site of the former totem pole. The results of those meetings strongly indicated that residents wished to focus on themes of diversity, inclusion, welcoming, pride, and history. Residents also expressed strong positive feelings about the former totem pole and desired that the new sculpture pay homage to it.
Tlingit Totem
Stockton car dealer Hart L. Weaver bought a totem pole while in Alaska and placed it outside his dealership. The 46-foot wooden sculpture was carved by Tlingit artisan Charlie Joe Tagcock. When Weaver died in 1932, his family donated the totem pole to the City. The City placed it at the northeast corner of Victory Park where it stood until its removal in 1999. The pole became a prominent landmark and symbol to City residents of the unique character of the Victory Park neighborhood. The pole began to deteriorate, was removed from the park, and has since disintegrated and no longer exists.
Project Progress to Date
A Request for Proposals was released on January 21, 2021. The City received 14 responses which were reviewed by a scoring committee consisting of a member of the Stockton Arts Commission, City representatives from the Public Works Parks Division, the City Manager's Office, and a Victory Park neighborhood representative, who is also an artist. The scoring committee interviewed 5 artists and has moved 3 submissions forward for consideration.
Scoring Criteria
The finalists were recommended because their proposed pieces were of unique design and exceptional merit. The artists were asked to identify how:
- the proposed pieces express the unique characteristics of the community;
- represent the importance of Victory Park as a gathering place; and
- serve as a new landmark reflecting the identity of the neighborhood.
Public Participation
The final round was designed to receive feedback from members of the community.
Each of the 3 finalists was recorded answers to the following questions:
- Please describe your piece. Specifications, height, material(s) used, construction process, etc.
- Please describe how the piece addresses the diversity, identity, pride, and history of the community.
- Please describe how the piece represents the importance of Victory Park as a gathering place.
On July 26, 2022, the City Council approved an agreement in the amount of $175,000 to Artist James Moore for design, fabrication, and installation of services at Victory Park. It is anticipated that the project will be completed in Fall 2023.
For additional information, please contact the Community Services Department at (209) 937-8285 or email Benjamin.Keisic@stocktonca.gov.
External Links
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This City of Stockton web page last reviewed on --- 10/31/2023