BRENTWOOD, CA – The City of Brentwood proudly unveiled Birds of Beauty on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, completing the final piece of a multi-year public art series designed and built by students from Liberty High School’s Public Art Design Academy (PADA). The ribbon-cutting ceremony brought together PADA alumni, student families, City Councilmembers, City staff, Liberty Union High School District leadership, and community members to celebrate this collaborative achievement.
Located at the corner of Sand Creek Road and O’Hara Avenue, the site was carefully chosen for its visibility to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The natural elevation offers an ideal viewing platform while providing physical separation that helps preserve the artwork and its intricate surfaces. This spot not only highlights the installation to passersby but also ensures its long-term protection and appreciation.
Birds of Beauty is the second phase of a multi-year student art series. It builds on Tri-Fish, a 2024 sculpture representing Chinook salmon migrating upstream through Sand Creek. The new installation adds representations of native birds, such as a golden eagle, blue heron, long-billed curlew, and barn owl, highlighting additional species within the same local ecosystem. Together, the two pieces tell an evolving, student-led environmental story unique to Brentwood.
The student-created sculptures incorporate various materials and techniques, including glass, metal, epoxy, concrete, and custom tiles. Throughout the seven-month process, students completed over 350 hours of work developing advanced skills in glass fusing, welding, using a plasma cutter for metalwork, and simulating wood textures in concrete.
“This was kind of a first for us,” said Jacob Edwards, PADA Advisor. “We have never done a multi-year project where different groups of students contribute to the same space over time. It’s been really cool to watch each class build on what came before and make it their own. The kids did a ton of welding, design work, and experimenting with new materials. It’s just a great example of how creative they can get when you give them the tools and space.”
As a working artist himself, Edwards is known for constantly evolving his art style through different mediums and techniques, and that creative spirit carries over to his students. “I like to push boundaries with my own art, and I encourage the kids to do the same,” he said. “They’re not just learning skills, they’re learning how to find their own style of art.”
For the students, the opportunity to leave a lasting mark on the community was especially meaningful.
“To see my art in the community, it’s really empowering and exciting,” said Hannah Rivers, Liberty High School Class of 2025. “It’s not every day that the art you create with others gets to be shown in such a public way.”
Lucia Hernandez, another graduating senior, echoed the sentiment: “When I see the completed art piece, it makes me feel so proud, not just of myself, but of my class. We were able to do something lasting for the community we grew up in.”
Founded in 2010, the Public Art Design Academy provides Liberty High School seniors with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience the complete lifecycle of a public art project within a local government framework. From initial concept to installation, students present their designs to the Arts Commission, receive City Council approval, and collaborate with Parks and Recreation staff to bring their vision to life.
“Birds of Beauty really shows what’s possible when education, creativity, and civic partnership all come together,” said Lindsay Pinell, Recreation Supervisor for the City of Brentwood. “Working with Jake and the PADA program has been such a rewarding experience. His creativity and flexibility as an artist really empower the students to think big and take risks, and it shows in the work they produce. This project adds a vibrant new layer to Brentwood’s public art legacy, and I couldn’t be prouder to support these students as they leave their mark on our community.”
This new art highlights the strong ongoing partnership between the City of Brentwood and the Liberty Union High School District. With each new class, PADA continues to bring fresh ideas, artistic innovation, and a strong sense of community pride to Brentwood’s public spaces.
The public is invited to visit the installation at the corner of Sand Creek Road and O’Hara Avenue and experience firsthand the creativity and dedication of our local youth. The City extends its thanks to everyone who made this project possible and looks forward to future PADA collaborations.
For more information on Brentwood’s public art initiatives and youth programs, visit www.brentwoodca.gov/government/parks-recreation/public-art.
