March 23, 2005
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Artists Transform Metro Orange Line into Work of Art

• New public art exhibit at Pierce College March 28 to April 21 showcases artwork designs for San Fernando Valley transitway now under construction.

While construction continues on the 14-mile Metro Orange Line in the San Fernando Valley, a group of well-established California artists is busy producing a major work of art.

Renee Petropoulos, lead artist for the Metro Orange Line Art Project, envisions the Metro Orange Line — scheduled to open later this year — weaving like a ribbon through the Valley. The stations are uniformly designed, but reveal their unique identity when seen up close. An artist who grew up next to the Orange Line corridor, Petropoulos considers the artwork a tribute to Valley residents.

The works of Petropoulos, landscape artist Jud Fine and 13 other artists will be on exhibit at the Pierce College Art Gallery March 28 to April 21. Gallery hours are from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is free.

The exhibit will feature original artwork designs for Metro Orange Line stations, including terrazzo pavings, sculpture, photography, seating and landscaping. Members of the public will have an excellent opportunity to preview what the transitway will look like as it runs through their communities.

“The artists chosen to design artworks for the Metro Orange Line have made what we believe is a great contribution to our customers’ enjoyment of the stations that, while distinctive in their own right, also reference the Valley,” said Maya Emsden, Deputy Executive Officer of Creative Services, Metro. “The Metro Art Program has given them an opportunity to leave an indelible mark on the public space while creating a unique sense of place for our future transitway patrons.”

Established in 1989, Metro Art has commissioned over 250 artists for a wide variety of both temporary and permanent art projects on the 73-mile Metro Rail System. Artists are selected through a peer review process with community input; all works are created especially for the transit-related sites. Metro policy allocates 0.5% of rail construction costs to the enhancement of the rail system through the arts.

The Metro Orange Line will run from the North Hollywood Metro Red Line Station to Warner Center in Woodland Hills. Advanced, 60-foot compressed natural gas buses will run on an exclusive right-of-way through the cities of North Hollywood, Valley Glen, Van Nuys, Reseda, Winnetka, Canoga Park and Woodland Hills. The transitway will include 12 miles of pedestrian and bike paths, and more than 800,000 new plants and shrubs and 5,000 new trees. Six designated landscape art areas are also planned along the transitway route.

For more information about the Metro Art Program, visit metro.net/metroart or call Metro Art at 213-922-4ART. To learn more about docent tours, e-mail lashenickb@metro.net or call 213.922.2738. For Pierce College Art Gallery information, visit piercecollege.edu or call 818-719-6498.

Metro Local Bus Lines 164 and 243 and Metro Rapid Bus Line 750 serve Pierce College. Online trip planning is available at metro.net.

METRO-041

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