Totemic

“Totemic,” a large-scale work by San Francisco artist Charles Gadeken, is the result of a collaboration between Arts Los Altos and EAH Housing. The partnership began at the groundbreaking ceremony for the first all-affordable housing complex in Los Altos, located at 330 Distel Circle. Following an introduction to the project manager, EAH Housing expressed interest in bringing public art to the development. Arts Los Altos proposed “Totemic,” and the  concept was approved. Installation is now on the horizon.

Charles Gadeken, a celebrated industrial artist and founder of San Francisco’s The Box Shop, is known for transforming steel, copper, bronze, and technology into extraordinary art. His creations often incorporate LED lighting, fire, hydraulics, and electricity, inviting viewers to experience sculpture in unexpected ways.

At The Box Shop, more than 100 artists have access to studios, shared equipment, technical skills, and a creative community that supports ambitious projects, from massive sculptures to interactive installations seen by audiences around the world.

For “Totemic,” Gadeken draws inspiration from the apricot orchards that once stretched across much of Los Altos. His vision is a minimalist apricot grove, reimagined through the language of contemporary industrial art.

The sculpture’s three tall, squared columns are crafted from corten steel, whose naturally rusted finish gives the work a warm, earthy presence. Bands of orange and green slumped glass encircle each tower, including a larger band near the top. By day, the glass introduces vivid color and texture. After dark, it will glow from within, transforming the sculpture into a luminous presence on Distel Circle.

The sculpture’s most distinctive feature is an interactive element that connects technology with the human body. When a visitor places their hands on two hand-shaped prints, the sculpture’s lights will illuminate and vibrate in rhythm with the visitor’s heartbeat. It is an intimate moment within a monumental work: a reminder that even the most imposing structures can respond to something as personal and fleeting as a human pulse.

Gadeken imagines “Totemic” as a place where people can briefly step away from the pace of everyday life, sit down, and notice the beauty around them. With “Totemic,” Gadeken, Arts Los Altos and EAH Housing are bringing another imaginative work to the community—one that honors the orchards of the past while inviting residents to experience art in a new and engaging way.