Credits
From Pat Churchman
Commissioned by the restaurant’s owners to create a feature wall unlike any other, local artisans Pat Churchman and Nick Stoppello of Paper Wings Design drew from the chaotic mystery of the sea to craft a dynamic installation that feels alive in the room. Using compound parametric forms, they sculpted both the sailfish and its flowing backdrop to emerge from the wall in a way that feels organic—designed as part of the structure, not added after.
Several variations of the design were first constructed as scaled prototypes to test proportions, refine material selections, and ensure alignment with the restaurant’s overall aesthetic. These models helped guide the final composition, balancing complexity with cohesion and ensuring the piece would complement both the lighting and spatial flow of the room.
Custom recessed lighting tracks run above and below the piece, allowing the restaurant’s ambient system to interact with the contours of the artwork. As evening settles in, crushed abalone cladding reflects a shifting kaleidoscope of color, illuminating the sailfish while letting the background dissolve into abstraction.
This project is a study in contrast—digital precision meets handcrafted artistry, and bold presence meets architectural subtlety. The result is an immersive, integrated installation that anchors the space and elevates the dining experience.