Cooley Landing sculpture designed to bring East Palo Alto’s history to life
This proposed sculpture by artist Jessica Monette represents a doorway to East Palo Alto's past, present and future.
Local artist draws on residents’ stories and cultural traditions to design a monument connecting the city’s past, present and future.
What would it look like if East Palo Alto’s history, cultural diversity and community spirit could be captured in a single work of art?
Artist Jessica Monette answered that question with a proposed sculpture for Cooley Landing,
Through a slide presentation, personal narrative and videos, Monette explained to those who came to hear her that her sculpture would invite visitors to walk through a symbolic doorway connecting the city’s past, present and future.
Monette made her presentation at the Community Church in East Palo Alto on October 3, 2026.
It was hosted by the East Palo Alto Community Archive and the invited guests seemed enthralled as Monette shared each detail.
She said her sculpture, would be created as a portal, and would incorporate historical photographs, maps, cultural patterns and images of plants and animals. Together, these elements would tell the story of a community shaped by people from different backgrounds who share a common connection to East Palo Alto.
Monette, an East Palo Alto resident with family ties to the city dating back decades, was selected from 37 applicants nationwide following a community-led evaluation process.
Rather than developing the sculpture independently, she spent approximately a year listening to residents and learning what they wanted the artwork to represent.
More than 60 people participated in over 10 focus groups, individual interviews and online surveys. Their discussions repeatedly emphasized diversity, community pride, hope, resilience, self-determination and connection.
Monette said those conversations became the foundation for her design.
As she researched the city’s history, she said she also explored cultural symbols from African, Pacific Islander, Mexican and other traditions. Her research led her to discover similarities in geometric patterns and decorative motifs that crossed cultural boundaries.
Monette said those similarities offered her a way to celebrate not only the differences among East Palo Alto’s residents, but also the connections that bring them together.
The design also draws inspiration from historical maps of East Palo Alto and plants native to the region, as well as plants that arrived from elsewhere. Monette sees a parallel between the movement of plants and the migration of people who have made the city their home.
A portal through time
The sculpture would be constructed primarily from Corten steel, a material that develops a rust-colored protective surface as it weathers.
Monette said she selected the material partly because of the environmental conditions at Cooley Landing, where fresh and salt water mix. She described the steel’s changing appearance as a reflection of the passage of time.
Rather than honoring one person or historic event, Monette said the installation is intended to recognize the contributions of the many communities that have helped define the city.
So, she said that it would be a symbolic doorway/entrance into the histories, cultures and collective memories that have shaped East Palo Alto.
The portal’s shape is central to that idea.
As visitors approach and pass through the structure, Monette said that she envisions them moving symbolically from the past into the present and toward the future.
The artwork would also be interactive, allowing visitors to become part of the experience rather than simply observing it from a distance.
A personal connection to East Palo Alto
In sharing her background, Monette said that while she is originally from New Orleans, she has lived in East Palo Alto for approximately 16 years. Her husband’s family has longstanding ties to the city, including a family home on Ursula Way that dates back to the 1960s.
She studied at the Academy of Art University and San Francisco State University and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Stanford University.
Her work includes painting, sculpture and other artistic disciplines. She said that she has a particular interest in cultural preservation and the importance of keeping community histories from being forgotten.
Because of her personal interests, the Cooley Landing project was especially meaningful to her.
Community involvement continues
The proposed installation is part of a broader effort to preserve and share East Palo Alto’s history.
Project organizers plan to offer monthly tours led by trained young people described as youth culture keepers. They would help visitors understand the monument’s imagery and the stories behind it.
The sculpture could also become a regional attraction, particularly as plans move forward for a Bay-to-Sea Trail connecting the Pacific Coast near Half Moon Bay with Cooley Landing.
Organizers envision the installation as a destination that introduces visitors to East Palo Alto while strengthening residents’ connection to their own history.
Funding remains a challenge
Although the project has moved through an extensive community engagement process, additional funding is still needed.
During a public discussion, an organizer acknowledged that the final appearance of the installation could depend on how much money is raised.
Without sufficient funding, some design features, including decorative etchings and glass elements, might have to be reduced or eliminated.
In response to questionsfrom the audience, Monette explained that the sculpture remains in the design phase. The actual creation of it, known as the fabrication process, is expected to take place in the Los Angeles area, with the completed structure transported to East Palo Alto. Local workers and businesses would be hired to help prepare the installation site.
Organizers described the overall development process as taking approximately two years, although a confirmed completion date wasn’t given.
For Monette, the project reflects a central theme in her artistic work: preserving memory and culture so that important stories are not lost.
If completed as envisioned, the Cooley Landing sculpture would offer residents and visitors an opportunity to experience those stories in a place where East Palo Alto’s history and its future meet.
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