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October
27,
2005 |
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When
it opens to the public, Oct. 29, the Metro Orange Line will debut
artfully designed stations, plazas and landscaping featuring the work of
14 California artists. “The
artists commissioned for the Metro Orange Line have created a unique
sense of place for future transitway patrons and have made what we
believe is a great contribution to our customers’ experience,” said
Maya Emsden, deputy executive officer, Creative Services. Artworks
include terrazzo paving at platforms, colorful porcelain steel art
panels at each station entry, sculpted seating and various landscaping
elements.
“This
work is a tribute to the Valley,” said Renée Petropoulos, who served
as the lead artist on the project. “I envisioned artworks strewn
across the Valley as jewels on a 14-mile necklace.” Petropoulos
worked with the project design team to provide the Orange Line with a
unified, streamlined continuous aesthetic and, as lead artist,
influenced the design of the station canopies, platforms and seating as
well as the materials and colors used in the stations. Plaza
seating areas at five station park and ride lots were also designed by
Petropolous; shade structures, also to be designed by the artist, are
anticipated at a future date. She has entitled the work “14 Miles.”
Landscape
artist Jud Fine collaborated with the project landscape architect to
develop landscaping artwork and plantings integrated throughout the
Orange Line route, now a garden of some than
800,000 new plants and shrubs as well as 5,000 new trees. In
addition to seven landscape art areas, designed specifically to reflect
local conditions, Fine selected the double line of Aleppo trees and
Torrey Pines that run the length of the project and are spaced to
approximate the sense of movement of the 60-foot articulated buses on
the transitway. Sculpted markers, to be placed in the landscaping, are
anticipated at a future date. He has entitled the work “Seven Spots
and a Path.” The
artwork was incorporated into 13 stations of the Metro Orange Line by
the following artists, (listed in station order, east to west): Caryl
Davis, “Dramatic Locale” at the North Hollywood Station; Phung
Huynh, “Lucky California” at the Laurel Canyon Station; Laura
London, “Former Location/Contemporary Portrait” at the Valley
College Station; Daniel Marlos, “Journey to California” at the
Woodman Station; Roxene Rockwell, “Van Nuys, The New Town” at the
Van Nuys Station, Michele Martínez, “Todos vuelven/Everyone
Returns” at the Sepulveda Station; John Roloff, “Valley Scan” at
the Woodley Station; John O”Brien, “OverSite” at the Balboa
Station; Jody Zellen, “Now and Then” at the Reseda Station; Sandow
Birk, “Tarzan and Tarzana” at the Tampa Station; Pat Warner, “What
We See” at the Pierce College Station; John Divola, “Images from
‘Dogs Chasing My Car in the Desert’” at the DeSoto Station; and
Roy Dowell, “Constructed Histories” at the future Canoga Station
(anticipated to open in 2006). Metro-160 |
