Wall of (Un)Fame
More than 650 residents of the cities of Downey, Bellflower and Paramount contributed to artist Erika Rothenberg’s “Wall of (Un)Fame.”
Archives
Suka: Place of the Bees
The indigenous place name for the village settlement in the area near what is also known as Norwalk is Sejat, also known as Suka (as well as Sejatngna and Sehat), which meant “Place of the Bees.”
Second Line
A new series of sculptural parasols titled “Second Line” by artists Jamex and Einar de la Torre front the new Rosa Parks Customer Center and offer shade and enjoyment for the community at future events.
Gifts of Freedom and Knowledge
A mythical continuous stream winds through Magic Johnson Park alongside the local icons and characters who serve as hallmarks of a place in which the artist finds “home.”
real green
In “real green” at Vermont/Athens Station, artist Kim Yasuda and architectural collaborator Torgen Johnson sought not only to pay homage to, but to revive, the agricultural history of Gardena, a city once well-recognized for its gardens
Pyramid
Artist John Outterbridge has created Pyramid, a bilateral, reinforced-concrete pyramidal form, located at the northwest end of the station entrance.
Portrait Of My People #619
In Portrait Of My People #619, artist Willie Middlebrook has translated images of past and present artists from the surrounding community into a computer-generated porcelain enamel photo-mural.
Pathways to Freedom
At Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station, artists Michael Massenburg and Robin Strayhorn created 5 seating areas out of concrete and ceramic tile, each seat honoring an important year in the life of Rosa Parks.
Locus: City Imprints
With “Locus: Locus: City Imprints” which is entwined in one of the city’s most complex freeway intersections, artist Steve Appleton attempts to architecturally connect the Harbor Freeway Station site with greater Los Angeles.
Hide-n-Seek
Working with local children, artist JoeSam. created Hide-n-Seek, a giant figural game located amid the numerous freeway supporting columns at the site. Throughout the two levels of the Wilmington/Imperial Station (now known as the Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station)
Crenshaw Stories
Project Description Artist Buzz Spector uses the theme of an “open book” for Crenshaw Stories. As is the case throughout Los Angeles, people living in the neighborhoods surrounding the station speak a number of different languages. Spector collected stories from these residents in several languages including Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Arabic, Russian and Tagalog. Seventy-two of these stories were hand-painted onto tile and interspersed with color tiles at the entrance to the station. In addition, seventy-two of the most commonly spoken languages by children in Los Angeles public schools, each coupled with the word “American,” are embedded at intervals across the platform. The book motif has also been incorporated into the design of station seating and paving patterns. Spector’s work provides a unique and colorful identity to Crenshaw Station while providing connections between people, between places, and between times. Collaboration with Caltrans, Architects. Artist Statement “Transportation systems are not just means of moving people—they are metaphors of the cultural and spiritual links between peoples. Crenshaw Stories has been designed to stress the connections between us that …
Companions
Project Description Companions is a series of cast bronze sculptures distributed throughout the station which introduce human scale to the often overwhelming environment. The figures, which represent various age groups, interact with passengers and each other. Up close, their smooth surface reflects a distorted image of the viewer. Grimmer also designed the polished granite benches at the station, providing harmonious seating for both passengers and the figural sculptures. Collaboration with Caltrans, Architects. Artist Statement “These figures are meant to be understood on different levels. They can appear to be companions to take along on a mental journey or to greet on the return. Upon catching a glimpse of his/her distorted reflection in the sculptures, the commuter may realize that however familiar we are to ourselves we may appear odd to others. Such a realization can be the first step to broadening our appreciation of the variety of ethnicities and lifestyles within our community and the world.” About the Artist MINEKO GRIMMER, born and raised in Japan, received a traditional western art education at Iwate University in Japan. …
Celestial Chance
Artist Sally Weber designed “Celestial Chance” for Lynwood Station to explore traditional and contemporary visions of the sky.
Bridge of Culture
Artist Stanley Wilson’s work Bridge of Culture focuses on the similarities within the beliefs shared by African and Native American cultures (especially those of Mexico).
Untitled
Working with the station architect and engineers, artist Richard Turner celebrates the exuberance of mid-century modern American design and the expansive optimism of the 1950’s aerospace industry. References to the landscaping and furniture of the middle-class American home are combined with elements of Los Angeles vernacular architecture to create a station that is a synthesis of the home and the workplace.