Rachel and her husband Shawn at the San Diego bayfront, under Rachel's new Urban Tree.
The Airport Authority’s own Rachel Merfalen brings art to Harbor Drive once again.
Public art is alive and well in San Diego, and the Airport Authority is proud that one of our own is behind some of it. Employee Rachel Merfalen — or Rachel Eva as she is known in the art world — has co-designed an urban tree currently gracing Harbor Drive.
The tree is called Port Mobile, and it can be seen on Harbor Drive for the next year across the street from the County of San Diego Administration Building. Created with her husband, Shawn Michael, the concept for the tree was inspired by fall leaves and the seasonality of San Diego. This blogger took some time to get to know the artist behind the tree.
Airport Authority artist-employee Rachel with husband Shawn.
Rachel is a San Diego native who had a gift for art from a young age. As a young girl, she won art contests and later pursued a degree in literature and fine art. She enjoys painting as well as working with sculpture. This is Rachel’s second urban tree to be selected for the Port of San Diego’s Urban Tree Exhibits.
How does Rachel find balance between working full time, going to school, being a wife and creating art? Turns out she doesn’t own a television and always incorporates leisure time into her busy schedule.
What’s up next for Rachel Eva? She continues to pursue public art projects in the installation realm and is considering forming a nonprofit company. This girl never stops!
Today's post is from Ambassablogger Sara in the Corporate Services Department.
Rachel has this parting advice for budding artists: “Always look for alternatives, and get creative with how you can share your art.”
Congratulations Rachel on another outstanding accomplishment!
For more about Rachel’s earlier Urban Tree project, visit these past Ambassablog posts:
- Urban Trees to be unveiled - posted September 10, 2009 by Ambassablogger Mary
- Rachels’ Urban Treet Tree takes root – posted October 22, 2009 by Ambassablogger Dennise
Filed under: Airport Employees, In the Community, SARA (Corporate Services Department)
