Abstract sculpture adorns a corner at Sacramento fire station. Can its meaning be found?

A brown, abstract sculpture sits at the front of Sacramento Fire Station 11 at Florin Road and Havenside Drive, its meaning puzzling passersby — and The Sacramento Bee.

Doni Blumenstock, a Sacramento resident for more than 25 years, said she drives by the art piece frequently. Curiosity, she said, is what she feels when she sees the sculpture.

“When you look at it, it looks like maybe one reclining figure and one standing, but it doesn’t speak to me in any particular way,” Blumenstock said. “It just makes me wonder.”

The rust-colored sculpture in the Pocket-Greenhaven neighborhood toys with viewers’ perception, appearing as two figures in their leisure at one angle and as one stoic character in another.

“I’m accustomed enough to looking at art that I can usually figure something out,” said Blumenstock, who is also on the art commission for the city of Sacramento. “But this one stumps me.”

As a part of “Bee Curious: What is That Thing?,” a mini-series in our community-driven project, Blumenstock asked: “What is that sculpture in front of the firehouse at Florin and Havenside in the Pocket?”

To answer this question, a Bee reporter visited the sculpture at 785 Florin Road and talked to the Sacramento Office of Arts and Culture.

What is this sculpture?

The sculpture is titled, “No! No!? Oh Yeah!” and was created in 1986 by artist Urban-o Bernardo, according to the Public Art Archive, a nonprofit arts organization.

It’s made of polished granite, steel and rust patina. The piece was constructed by welding ferrous plate steel with granite fitted tightly in place, according to an email from the city’s arts office.

Not much could be found about the artist, Bernardo. A 2015 Sacramento Magazine story refers to the sculptor only as a “California artist.”

The history of what this sculpture means and why it’s displayed at Sacramento Fire Station 11 also appears a mystery. Since the piece was created in the 1980s, digging into its history would call for the city to go through its paper archives, requiring a public records request, said Jennifer Singer, a media and communications specialist for the city.

The Bee filed a request on the sculpture Thursday and is awaiting the city’s response. But Singer said that there might not be information beyond what is detailed on the online archive.

Considering abstract art is an experiential art form, the meaning of the sculpture could be personal — whatever you make of it.

Abstract art does not have to tell a story or have a singular explanation, according to Art Mine, a guide for art collectors. Instead, it encourages involvement and imagination.

“This art form is mostly about providing its viewers with an intangible and emotional experience — more often than not, the experience is completely different for every individual depending on their personality and state of mind,” according to Art Mine.

Public art decorates the city

Public murals, installations and sculptures are scattered throughout Sacramento.

This includes another piece from artist Urban-o Bernardo at the Belle Cooledge Library at 5600 South Land Park Drive. “Untitled,” the sculpture, made of steel, glass and marble, mimics a slice of a brick wall.

Blumenstock said one of her favorite art installations in the city is at the federal courthouse on I Street where small bronze sculptures are panning for gold — an homage to Sacramento’s Gold Rush history.

Sacramento has several art programs focused on creating a visual arts experience around the city. This includes the Art in Public Places program in 1977 that led to hundreds of artworks fixed in public spaces. According to the city’s website, a majority of the pieces are from local and regional artists.

The public art program is funded by the city and county, and a Memorandum of Understanding — or an agreement — that 2% of city and county improvement project budgets are reserved for commissioning, buying and installing art in Sacramento.

You can find public art near you using the online map from the Public Art Archive.

Ever wondered about an obscure building, plaque or other quirky sights in Sacramento? Ask us about it in the form below and we’ll find the answer. Or email beecurious@sacbee.com.

This story was originally published September 17, 2022 at 5:00 AM.