November 19, 2001
CONTACT: 
Gary Wosk/Marc Littman
MTA MEDIA RELATIONS
(213) 922-2712/922-2700 www.mta.net/press/pressroom
e-mail: mediarelations@mta.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Strange Voices from Below and Other Clever Art Devices 
Make Debut on Self Guided Angels Walk Tours

Versión en español
A mysterious, omnipresent sidewalk voice offering sound-bytes about Hill Street’s past and present, art tiles depicting the architectural history of LA, and manhole covers with descriptions of important urban underground facts, past and present, are the newest magical elements that await pedestrians who follow the paths of Angels Walk, a self guided tour of points of cultural and/or historic importance in LA.

Created by artist Kim Abeles with support from architect Doug Suisman, the artwork, located next to the Pershing Square Metro Red Line station, was commissioned by MTA and is maintained by the City of Los Angeles, Grand Central Square Limited Partnership and MTA. The completed work consists of:

• Art tiles embedded in the large semi-circle bench at the Grand Central Market Food Court overlooking Angel’s Flight.

• Sidewalk medallions or manhole covers placed throughout the neighborhood’s sidewalks, providing details about important places, times and themes of the City’s urban infrastructure.

• A sound clock installed on the northeast corner of 5^th and Hill Street just outside the Pershing Square Metro Red Line station entrance. Those walking by the entrance, near Grand Central Market, will hear voices imparting the time of day, tales of Hill Street and ambient sounds from the immediate area.

“Historically, at its core, art has served as a guide to the vistas that we see from each of our observation decks,” says Abeles. “I develop my art by gathering data over extended time periods and combining the data with intuitive manipulations that directly respond to the communication inherent in the materials. Thus, my sculpture combines poetry with fiction in both visual and literary terms. I make use of the media and processes that best transform each subject.”

Angels Walk serves as a linkage to the public transit system in downtown Los Angeles. Located within close proximity of Metro Rail stations and Metro Bus lines in an area that includes such landmarks as Grand Central Market, Bunker Hill District, Olvera Street, Chinatown, the Music Center, Union Station, the Los Angeles Convention Center and many others, Angels Walk encourages the exploration of places, events and people whose ambition, hopes and dreams shaped LA.

Kim Abeles received a BFA from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio and a MFA from UC Irvine, California. She has received numerous prestigious awards and her work has been exhibited extensively locally and abroad. She is currently on the faculty at Cal State University at Northridge.

MTA-149

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