Man of Fire: Dr. Ernesto Galarza   

Artist: Kim Yasuda

Location: The Paseo between Market and 4th Streets linking Cesar Chavez Plaza and San osé State University, San José

Man of Fire commemorates the great and influential teacher and civic leader Dr. Ernesto Galarza. The artwork references Dr. Galarza’s life-long pursuit of bridging academic and civil life. The design of this commemorative work seeks to physically and conceptually connect San Jose State University with Plaza de Cesar Chavez, in the heart of the City's downtown.

The artwork is composed of 3 key elements:
Library Table
The centerpiece is a monumental library/work table, located in the Fairmont Hotel block of the Paseo across Market Street from Plaza de Cesar Chavez. This element
references many facets of Dr. Galarza’s life work, including academia, poetry, education, labor organizing and family. The surface of the cast-concrete library table contains inlaid bronze farm tools, a cast-bronze field-worker's hat, photo-etched black granite portraits, photo-etched ceramic tiles and bronze text. The table ‘s relief surface is designed to encourage pedestrians to view and touch the inlaid elements.
Cast Bronze Chair
At the west end of the table, facing Plaza de Cesar Chavez, an empty cast-bronze
chair with a wooden seat serves as a metaphor for Dr. Galarza as the field worker
who took his scholarly practice into the world. The chair is a functional element,
intended to encourage visitors to sit and explore the content of table’s surface.
Ribbons of Terrazzo
The ribbons of terrazzo, 11" wide and of varying length, lace through the Paseo
paving in each of the four blocks. Designed to have a subtle physical and visual
impact upon the Paseo, these ribbons are intended to draw the pedestrian through
the length of the walkway. The terrazzo is inlaid with bronze text, in both English
and Spanish, containing personal recollections from Dr. Galarza's family, friends
and colleagues about his life and work.