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New Public Art 'Cloud Nest' Coming to Shute Park

A new interactive public artwork is coming to Shute Park in 2025.

Inspired by People & Place

design-inspiration Cloud Nest by artist Becky Borlan will be a 24-foot high powder-coated steel dome with colorful, laser cut translucent panels installed near the playground area at Hillsboro’s oldest park. The design was inspired by papel picado, Buckminster Fuller and geodesic domes, a soccer ball, quilts, and traditional plazas and town squares.

“I was drawn to the idea of building a dome almost immediately after visiting Shute Park,” said Becky, who has a depth of experience engineering large-scale art installations. “There’s something both ancient and futuristic about this type of structure, a reflection of Hillsboro’s contrasts: hundred-year-old trees growing where cutting-edge computer chips are made.”

Shaped By Community

Shute Park location The artwork echos the voices of thousands of community members who shared ideas and opinions about the project through multi-year engagement efforts at in-person events, through online surveys, and with focus groups. That input was used to develop the vision, scope, and final design for the project.

A six-member community steering committee was at the core of the process. Committee representatives included:

Local artists
Business and community leaders from Calle Diez (10^th Avenue)
Members of Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Commission and Hillsboro Arts & Culture Council
Residents from the neighborhood surrounding Shute Park

Selecting the Artist

Based on the community vision, a Call to Artists was developed and initially limited only to artists in Oregon. When there were no applicants with experience engineering the large-scale work the community envisioned, the call was expanded to a national level.

Of more than 50 applicants, the committee selected three finalists, including Borlan, who were invited to visit Shute Park, meet the community, and create a project proposal. The proposed designs were shared on Engage Hillsboro for feedback. People favored Borlan’s vibrant color palette, inviting, welcoming, and engaging design, and felt that Borlan developed a sculpture that considered the project goals and the community in Hillsboro.

The committee agreed, and the Hillsboro Arts & Culture Council unanimously approved the design in September.

Meet the Artist

Becky-Borlan Based in Baltimore, Maryland, Becky likes to utilize light and color to spark reverence and wonder in her work. She wants her installations to be playful, vibrant, and whimsical. Becky applies the curiosity of a child to question everything. She dabbles with different materials. She paints with the expressive parts of color theory, and “loops, bobs, weaves together forms to unite them into a concise and clear invitation to explore without judgment.”

“Play is at the core of my work as a sculptor, painter, and installation artist,” Becky said. “My sculptures are composed of repeated geometric elements in saturated colors that invite viewers to connect with (and perhaps get lost in) their own play state of mind and recognize the everyday magic in the present moment. I’d love to bring this approach to the artwork for Shute Park.”

Design & Inspiration

steel-dome

Cloud Nest is based on principles of geodesic dome building.
The piece walks the line between structure and shelter, providing a bit of cover but being open to the elements. Becky envisions the cutout panels becoming more open at the top, so that it’s less of a roof and more of a window to the sky.

A powder-coated steel structure will be the base, supporting translucent laser cut panels in the shape of hexagons, pentagons, and triangles. The panels will be cut with various geometric and organic motifs, a reference to the Mexican art of papel picado.

The structure invites park goers inside with a large main archway approximately 18 feet high. Four smaller archways encircle the structure, keeping sight lines open from the nearby playground.

Underneath the piece is a level surface of grass at grade with the surrounding sidewalk. The existing planter will be demolished and removed to create easier access for pedestrians and those differently abled.

The footers of the structure will connect just outside of the grass circle, bolted into concrete. Finally, the sculpture will incorporate a lighting plan using a combination of well lights embedded in the sidewalk, and post lights.

Next Steps & Funding

Cloud-Nest-Night In addition to recommending Cloud Nest, the committee asked Becky to provide additional community engagement opportunities as she develops designs for the cut patterns in the sculpture.

The project is paid for through the City’s Public Art Fund, with a total budget of $245,000 and is anticipated to be completed by October 2025.

Between now and then, Borlan will be responsible for:

Coordinating with the Public Art Program to prepare engineering drawings
Secure necessary permits
Host community workshops
Fabricate the sculpture
Prepare the site at Shute Park, and
Oversee delivery and installation.

Borlan will work with local contractors for engineering, site preparation, installation, and lighting.

About Shute Park

Shute-Park-site Shute Park is Hillsboro’s oldest park and one of its most used and recognized. The park with a large playground and stage that hosts a free summer concert series is at the center of a campus of City of Hillsboro facilities, including Shute Park Library, Hillsboro Community Senior Center, and Shute Park Aquatic & Recreation Center. The park is active throughout the year supporting general recreation along with a variety of cultural festivals and events that attract both residents and visitors.