This is a project we completed back in 2005 for Spa MD in La Jolla. We were asked by the then CEO of the company, Dianne York Goldman, to come up with solutions to add to the in house marketing of their services. The requirement was twofold: to come up with a way to display the headshots of their celebrity clients in a way that could be switched out upon demand; and a system by which the diplomas and certificates for their doctors could be featured and eventually added to, based on the expansion of their surgical staff. What we came up with was a cable suspended system installed next to their reception desk that featured plexiglas sleeves in which photos would be displayed in a consistent format and changed out and updated without any fuss. In addition, we created a standardized set of custom backers made from perforated steel and painted masonite to mount the certificates and awards in columns of like sizes in one oversized display in the main waiting room. We have since added two outside rows to the body of the display when their company expanded and added staff in 2007. The plotting and execution of the rows with the various odd sizes of the certificates was a significant challenge, but we think the result turned out better than we could have imagined.

I’m starting with this project from 2004 because it illustrates a few of the things that make Level One what it is today, namely, a highly efficient provider of unparalleled, hassle-free art & display installation services.

This installation was located at the first CityMark Showroom in the East Villiage, and came right on the heels of opening of Petco Park in conjuction with the Omni Hotel, where we installed all of the in room suite art as well as the public fine art. The goal of this project was to create a “floating gallery” in the CityMark showroom for their downtown San Diego condo developments. Based upon roughed out specs provided by Hansen Associates, a San Diego based marketing & branding firm, we were tasked to work out the measurements and dimensions of where the ‘lifestyle’ images would be placed within 2 window fronts at the site + the installation of 4 12 foot high graphics banners advertising the respective developments. In addition, we were to create a customized cable tensioning display to “float” everything in the dramatic downtown space–which required the use of a scissor lift to drill out the mounting points in the 25 foot high concrete ceiling, among other details.

Cable tensioning display systems for CityMark Showroom, downtown San Diego.

Not only was the final product of utmost importance here, so was the timing. Being able to deliver in clutch situations is something we specialize in at Level One, and this job exemplifies that delivery. Because CityMark was pushing to get the Grand Opening launched within a month of us looking at the project, the installation schedule was ridiculously tight. The lift we needed for the ceiling had to come in BEFORE the bamboo hardwood flooring was laid down, so there was NO MARGIN for error on the layout of the hardware in the ceiling, because no one would be able to get back up there!

We spent a full day going up and down on the lift working out measurements on the ceiling, and then drilling out and installing the top mounts for the system. Which is the opposite of how we would normally install, not having the luxury of double checking the dimensions on the floor. The next day the flooring crew came in, and we came right behind them, literally on their heels, to install the hardware into the floor. We used a laser plumb to line up with the hardware in the lid and then had another set of issues with drilling into the freshly laid floor. Again, ZERO MARGIN for screwups, or We’d bought a new floor.

floating gallery | cable tensioning display system

The fun part was drilling out the mounting holes for each plate into the decking, of which there are 3 closely spaced, then having to drill into the concrete slab without fraying the hole just drilled into the wood. AND don’t drill too deep, or your set anchor will be too far for the mounting screw to attach. Joy! One of the other hardest things to work out was the floating shelf application with the picture mounted on it. The trick was modifying the use of 4 flat type of cable shelf holders and balancing it properly on an already installed application. The result worked out perfectly, with the layering effect of the various images floating at different heights and depths. The display layout provided by Hansen Associates, along with the slick interior design from M. Bryan Studio, created one of the coolest commercial development showrooms this city has seen. We were honored to be a part of its inception and execution.

Level One Art Installation is the culmination (so far) of my 20 years in the business of art presentation & art installation. I’m Eric Gilliat II, and I’m proud of the professional services I provide today to my terrific clients throughout the San Diego and southern California art & design communities.

san diego commercial art installation

Thanks for exploring this site, where I am beginning to chronicle some of the more complex and dramatic projects of  last ten years as an art installation professional in San Diego.

exterior art installation | san diego, california

My goal is that this site becomes a gateway, not only to my services, but also to the network of hugely talented and create people that I get to work with on a daily basis, so keep reading!