An Art Installation in Honor of Earth Month
The Goldman Environmental Prize is pleased to present GROW, a public art installation at PROXY, in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley neighborhood.
About GROW
In nature, growth unfolds as a biological process that human intervention can profoundly influence. GROW portrays the intricate relationship between our expansively built environment and nature. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration between nature and humans to repair past damage. Ultimately, GROW beckons viewers to engage by visualizing this relationship and inviting thoughtful contemplation on the consequences of unbridled urban expansion, pollution, extraction, and the ever-evolving interplay between humanity and the natural world.
The formation of our built infrastructure plays a substantial role in the visual narrative of the installation, with scaffolding structures that mirror a grid of buildings. The structures encase and interact with trees. Moss letters forming the word “grow” are applied to the scaffolding to symbolize greenery reclaiming the manufactured environment. The word “grow” also calls for individuals to support and protect nature. Nature finds a way, and so must we. One can observe the word “grow” in multidimensional ways by walking around the structure or viewing it from the plaza or street sides.
Growing a Local Community
The installation itself pays homage to collaboration and sustainability. The trees used in the installation are provided and maintained by San Francisco nonprofit Friends of the Urban Forest. Once the installation is dismantled, the trees will be planted in communities around San Francisco in partnership with the organization, giving them a new purpose beyond this installation.
Honoring Environmental Leaders
GROW is presented by the Goldman Environmental Prize, the world’s foremost award for grassroots environmental leaders. For 35 years, the Goldman Prize has honored environmental activists from six global regions, celebrating their achievements through storytelling and in-person ceremonies.
About the Artists
Brian Singer
Brian Singer, also known as Someguy, is an artist whose studio practice and large-scale public projects address various social justice issues. With a meticulous rigor and legibility informed by his experience as a designer and visual communicator, Singer’s work invites critical engagement through surprising juxtapositions of media and wordplay. From intimate works on paper to international participatory projects, Singer’s practice is unified by the desire to facilitate unexpected moments of human connection.
Laura Hapka
Laura Hapka is a fine artist based in San Francisco with a diverse background as an artist and a design and construction project manager. With over 18 years of experience in project management, she has managed projects in various fields, including art and brand installations. Laura is a lifelong learner and is educating herself about the intersection of psychology and art. She has a degree in landscape architecture and environmental design, which she was initially attracted to because of the landscape artists who were leaders in the public art space. Additionally, she holds a master’s degree in business administration, which has helped her with project planning, scheduling, and budgeting.
Together We Grow
Thank you to our partners for helping to bring GROW to life.
