Project Description
Glendora Home: A Slice of Sunshine refers to the history of Glendora and its role in the citrus industry. Incorporated into the title is “Glendora Home,” a brand of citrus that was grown in the area for generations, and the company’s slogan “A Slice of Sunshine.” Four large-scale oval columns are located on the platform and two at each of the station entry plazas. The columns are embellished with glass tiles in brilliant colors. Themes depicted include citrus, the foothills, water, irrigation, the bougainvillea plant, and the local brodiaea filifolia flower. Carvings of citrus are found at the top of each column. The canopy bases feature hand glazed ceramic tile laid out in one of three patterns: pinwheel, tessellation, and drop & slide.
Artist Statement
“The title for the Glendora Station is Glendora Home: A Slice of Sunshine. This phrase references the citrus groves and a slogan used by the traditional Glendora Citrus packing houses. The artworks for the station focus on the flora of the natural environment and are created using traditional tile making techniques, cuerda seca, mosaics, and cement sculptures.”
About the Artist
MICHAEL HILLMAN (b. 1961, Los Angeles, California) has a studio practice in ceramics, mosaic, and sculpture. He is an artist and arts educator who has completed numerous public art commissions including Glendora Monument Wall, Historic Glendora Depot, and Pride of the Foothills, all completed in collaboration with students from Citrus College. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics, a Bachelor of Arts in Art, and a Master of Arts in Art Education from California State University, Long Beach and has been teaching as a Professor of Art at Citrus Community College since 1997. He previously served as a Professor of Art at Azusa Pacific University and was an art consultant for the J. Paul Getty Museum and an advisory board member for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.