Location:
Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts third floor
Artist: Mark Lere
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
January 1993
A gift from Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo to the Friends of the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
Community Input Sought for Library and Senior Center Hours
Delightful artwork can be found within civic, retail and office developments throughout Cerritos. The artwork, which includes a world-renowned theater and sculptures featuring abstract works and realistic depictions of people and animals, adds beauty to the community.
The Public Art in Public Places Project, a non-commercial collaborative public information inventory of more than 1,600 public artworks in public places in more than 100 Southern California cities, is available at the Public Art in Public Places website.
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Location:
Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts third floor
Artist: Mark Lere
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
January 1993
A gift from Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo to the Friends of the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
Location
Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts lobby
Artist
Jamie Carpenter
Medium
Blue Glass
Installation date
1993
Location:
Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
Artist: George Lundeen
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
December 1996
A statue celebrating “The Joy of Music” was unveiled at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts on December 14, 1996 as a holiday gift to the community. The bronze statue, depicting two singing children backed by three musicians, was placed in the grassy area on the northeast side of the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, across from the Sheraton Cerritos Hotel.
The statue was created by Colorado artist George Lundeen. A native of Nebraska, Lundeen was a Fulbright-Hayes Scholar studying at the Academia de Belle Arte in Florence, Italy. He holds a masters in Fine Arts from the University of Illinois and a bachelor of arts from Hastings College in Nebraska. Lundeen established his sculpting studio in Loveland, Colorado in the mid-1970s where he currently lives and works. He has been commissioned to sculpt portraits and interpretive works for universities, cities, foundations and corporations nationwide, and his work has garnered top awards from the National Sculpture Society, the National Academy of Design and Allied Artists of America.
The artist was on-hand as the installation crew gently set the bronze musicians in place with a crane and secured them to their concrete base.
Location:
Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
Artist: Bob Zoell
Media: Cel-vinyl on canvas
Installation date:
June 2002
Donated by Cindy and Tony Canzoneri
Bob Zoell is a critically acclaimed Los Angeles artist. Zoell has served as visiting faculty at the University of California, Los Angeles. Zoell's untitled piece displayed in the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts is 5 feet 5 inches by 18 feet. It features cel-vinyl on canvas and is unframed on a blond wood stretcher.
For the past thirty years, the L.A.-based painter, whose work constantly pushes at the boundaries of this medium, has sought to get beyond the comforts of what has been done before so that something unforeseen might take shape - with greater clarity and precision than previously imagined, much less conceived. To this end Zoell's paintings are at once resolved and open-ended, clear-cut in the decision-making processes they embody, yet indeterminate in the unpredictable pleasures they generate when taken up by viewers, whose needs and desires take them in various, often conflicting directions.
The most curious and phenomenal space is between something and nothing, between be and not be, between is and isn't. That space that changes everything from Nothing and in a state of Grace to Something. Something that isn't then Is. In the most traditional sense, not unlike Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Picasso, Newman, et al, I locate on a field and mark it to celebrate that decision.
The City of Cerritos dedicated the Cerritos Sculpture Garden as a 50th anniversary gift to the community in 2006. The beautiful garden offers a delightful setting for the City’s growing collection of public artwork.
With both intimate spaces and spacious open areas, the Cerritos Sculpture Garden is an inviting place to experience art, nature and peaceful contemplation. Framed with graceful trees and textured courtside stone walls, the garden itself is a work of art.
The City of Cerritos will continue to place new artwork in the Cerritos Sculpture Garden as the space is designed to showcase 20 pieces. The community is invited to revisit the sculpture garden for years into the future to discover the new art pieces and experience the growth of the garden.
Cerritos Air Disaster Memorial
Location
Cerritos Sculpture Garden
Artist
Jane DeDecker
Medium
Bronze
Installation date
March 2006
The Cerritos Air Disaster Memorial pays tribute to the victims of the air tragedy that occurred in Cerritos on August 31, 1986. On that date, an Aeromexico flight collided with a smaller aircraft directly above the City, resulting in the loss of 64 people on the Aeromexico flight, three people on the smaller aircraft and 15 people on the ground. The tragedy became known as the Cerritos Air Disaster and prompted the implementation of safer procedures for airport approaches and departures.
The sculpture, designed by artist Kathleen Caricof, features three elements representative of the three groups of people that perished. The piece is created with three different materials including white and dark gray marbles and black granite. The materials have been sculpted into two free-form shapes in the likeness of abstracted wings, which are symbolic of flying, weightlessness and release. The wing-like pieces are approximately 10 feet tall and 14 feet tall, including the pedestals. A third element is placed horizontally and serves as a bench for visitors to rest on and reflect.
The people of Cerritos offer the memorial in memory of those who perished in the disaster, and to provide comfort and serenity to those who lost loved ones in the tragedy.
Location:
Cerritos Sculpture Garden
Artist: Lyle London
Media: Bronze
Installation date:
October 2014
“Dancer” is a bronze sculpture created by Lyle London of Tempe, Arizona. It is a hand-fabricated bronze art piece that stands approximately 10 feet high and is 5 feet in width. It is composed of a highly polished metal created in a sophisticated, stylized contemporary form and is one in a limited edition of five. “Dancer” has been installed in a quiet, reflective setting in the Cerritos Sculpture Garden.
The statue was formerly known as “Ocean Dancer” and was originally installed in 1998 to enhance a commercial center located on the northeast corner of Artesia Boulevard and Bloomfield Avenue. When redevelopment began at the site to change it into a luxury multi-family residential complex, the current owner, The Picerne Group, decided that it would replace “Dancer” with a newly commissioned art piece to reflect the architecture and environment of the new development.
The Picerne Group generously donated “Dancer” to the City of Cerritos Municipal Art Collection for all to enjoy.
Location:
Cerritos Sculpture Garden
Artist: Jane DeDecker
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
March 2006
“The Elements” is a collection of four art pieces created by artist Jane DeDecker, representing the four elements of nature – Earth, Wind, Fire and Water – as embodied by female figures inspired by ancient Greek and Roman sculptures.
Artist Jane DeDecker was recently awarded with the C. Percival Dietsch Award for the “Wind” sculpture from the 75th Annual Awards Exhibition of the National Sculpture Society in New York.
Each bronze figure is approximately 6 feet tall and carved in an abstract impressionist style. The figures are part of a limited edition of 11 pieces for each sculpture. The Cerritos Sculpture Garden is currently the only location to have a complete set of “The Elements.” The four sculptures stand in a reflecting pool with a fountain located in the center of the Sculpture Garden's main plaza. The area is enhanced by a tall architectural hedge.
Artist's Statement
The Four Elements and Four Directions have had a significant influence on our traditions and teachings throughout the ages. Their roots in alchemy, astrology and psychology prove to provide us with a balance in nature and a harmony in relation to everything that coexists in our environment. They are universal archetypes that represent the necessary elements comprising our sustenance in the world, and capture our personal, miraculous existence within that grand spectrum of life. These are my interpretations of those earthly goddesses and the bounty I feel they put forth toward all man kind. I hope you enjoy these creations and find the existence of each one within yourselves.
Location:
Cerritos Sculpture Garden
Artist: Cliff Garten
Media: Stainless Steel
Installation date:
September 2014
"Infinity," by artist Cliff Garten, was commissioned by the City of Cerritos for the Cerritos Sculpture Garden. It is a site-specific art piece designed to create a sense of place and to attract visitors from the Civic Center into the garden.
"Infinity" is a sophisticated stainless steel art piece that appears to change formation from different viewing angles. During the day, the lights and shadows from the garden environment interplay with and reflect upon the stainless steel structure. At night, dramatic colors and hues are projected on the sculpture and are visible throughout the garden and from the Civic Center campus.
Garten is an internationally recognized artist based in Venice, California, who has public art installations throughout the country. He was selected by the City of Cerritos for his ability to create a sense of place, to generate energy to the site and for his understanding of balance between art and the environment.
The project was funded by the local business community through the Cerritos Art in Public Places Program.
Location:
Cerritos Sculpture Garden
Artist: Jane Rankin
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
August 2016
“Join the Parade,” by Jane Rankin, is an ensemble comprised of eight limited edition bronze sculptures depicting small children in a make-shift marching band using kitchen utensils and cooking vessels as their instruments. The original sculptures were previously located at the Cerritos Plaza shopping center.
Rankin is a prominent artist from Colorado with numerous public commissions and awards. As a former schoolteacher, Rankin has a special connection with children, which are the subjects of most of her works of art. Rankin’s goal is to create art that has beauty and integrity in the craftsmanship and design. She creates sculptures with the intent of providing a catalyst for reflections and pleasant memories.
Location:
Cerritos Sculpture Garden
Artist: Jeff Zischke
Media: Steel
Installation date:
February 2016
“Joker” was created by artist Jeff Zischke and was initially installed in the Cerritos Sculpture Garden as part of a temporary sculpture display program, after which it became a permanent piece.
The art piece stands 8 feet tall on a 4x4-foot base. The contemporary abstract sculpture is fabricated in steel and painted with a high-gloss red paint.
Zischke is an artist from Scottsdale, Arizona, who has public art installations throughout the world that explore the cutting edge of sculpture, public art, mixed media and urban transformation. His permanent and temporary projects draw inspiration from organic shapes and modern technology.
Location:
Cerritos Sculpture Garden
Artist: Ted Schaal
Media: Bronze and Stainless Steel
Installation date:
October 2008
“Mirage” is located in the Cerritos Sculpture Garden. The piece was created by artist Ted Schaal of Loveland, Colorado. The contemporary bronze piece is approximately 7 feet, 9.5 inches tall by 15 feet wide. “Mirage” was selected by the City of Cerritos through a Call for Artists for a site-specific piece for the Cerritos Sculpture Garden.
The title of this abstract sculpture is Mirage and it is about those ethereal phenomena, which are impossible to actually touch. I was inspired by a desert mirage where a distant mountain range appeared to float in the sky, and this is my attempt to represent it in permanent sculpture form. Creating a horizon and diffusing it with the mirrored stainless orb, which is split in half, I achieve the illusion of a floating landscape. The sculpture is about depicting the mirage's ability to refract light in a way that the earth and sky are combined and diffused, making it difficult to tell exactly where one stops and the other starts. The oblong shape and symmetry of the sculpture causes the form to expand and contract as you approach it and walk around it. I believe that this piece invites the viewer to walk around and view it from different vantage points in an interactive experience.
Location
Cerritos Sculpture Garden
Artist
Michael Maiden
Medium
Bronze
Installation date
March 2006
The “Statue of Freedom” is a replica of the original bronze figure that stands atop the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. The piece is cast in bronze and measures seven feet, six inches tall (not including the pedestal on which it stands).
The “Statue of Freedom” depicts a female figure in flowing draped clothing with her right hand resting on the hilt of a sword and her left hand holding a laurel wreath of victory and the shield of the United States with 13 stripes. The “Statue of Freedom” stands on a base encircled with “E Pluribus Unum,” a Latin phrase meaning “Out of Many, One,” which was adopted as the motto of the Great Seal of the United States, and refers to the original 13 colonies united as one. The base is carved in granite in the likeness of the original cast-iron globe.
The original statue is 19 feet, 6 inches tall and was designed by Thomas Crawford in 1855 to symbolize “Freedom Triumphant in War and Peace.” The placement of the “Statue of Freedom” near ground level in the Cerritos Sculpture Garden allows the public to view it up close and appreciate what stands on top of the Capitol Dome.
The “Statue of Freedom” is located in the center of the Cerritos Sculpture Garden and includes lighting for night viewing. The piece was sculpted by Michael Maiden of Sandy, Oregon, who also created the “Falcon” sculpture at The Grove at Cerritos.
Location:
Cerritos Sculpture Garden
Artist: Denny Haskew
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
April 2023
“Strength of the Maker” was created by Colorado artist Denny Haskew and depicts a Native American man bending a bow across his back. The bronze sculpture is meant to represent the strength of a higher power that created nature and man. It measures 60 inches high and 60 inches wide including the bow.
In creating the piece, Haskew, a member of the National Sculptors Guild, states, “'Strength of the Maker' right from its title...to the strength shown even in the toes, is a statement of how I view my very inner belief. Nature and all things natural have always been of the utmost importance to me all my life. Believing in a God, the Great Spirit, Buddha, Mohammed, the Mysterious One and any other beings of greatness is important. I feel they all exude the same message, a life of oneness, of love, of honesty and a source of emotional strength. 'Strength of the Maker' is my visual version of how I see my Maker.”
Haskew, a member of the Potawatomi citizen nation, is known for creating art that reflects the Native American and southwestern culture. His work has been described as intensely personal and honest, reflecting recurring themes of spirit, love, forgiveness, healing, endurance and strength. Haskew has another piece, “Luminaire,” located at the Transpacific Development Company office building in the Cerritos Towne Center.
A limited edition of the “Strength of the Maker” sculpture has been selected for permanent display in the Native American Museum of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. It has won five best of show or first place prizes in the top art shows in the country.
Location:
Cerritos Civic Center, Bloomfield Avenue at 183rd Street
Artist: Sharles
Media: Bronze, Fountain
Installation date:
March 2002
Amaryllis by Sharles is located in the park-like Cerritos Civic Center in the area west of the Cerritos Library. Amaryllis consists of eight sculptures within a circular pool. The central sculpture, of an amaryllis bulb, is 11 feet tall and features a jet of water flowing from the center of its flowers into the pool. Surrounding the pool are colorful sculptures of a turtle, fish, frog and a swan emerging from lily pads. The piece also has lily flower sculptures with water jets that flow toward the center of the pool.
As the official sculptor for the American Endangered Species Foundation, Sharles uses his work to explore the balance and interrelationships of all parts of nature, whether animal or plant. His loose impressionistic technique allows him to capture the essence of these creatures in energetic tableaus. He aims for a fresh, mysterious drama; full of enchantment, adventure and fluid beauty.
Sharles has been a professional artist since 1967. His style is influenced by his extensive studies in Japan, Hong Kong, Europe, Canada and the east coast of the United States. His research into the environment and the life it supports led to the dedication of his work to dramatizing the plight of wildlife and environmental concerns.
Public commissions by Sharles include Left Hand of God for the Atlantic City Courthouse, a bas-relief for the City of Palm Desert, California; Moonbeam for Centaur-West Galleries, Chicago, Illinois and North Shore Nursing Home, Loveland, Colorado; Evolution of Flight for Continental Airlines; Angel of Caring for United Way; Great American Eagle Fountain for J.M.J. Corporation; a bas-relief for the Omaha Botanical Gardens, Omaha, Nebraska; and a bas-relief for the Loveland Museum and Gallery, Loveland, Colorado.
Sharles' work has also been commissioned by such entertainers as Jerry Lewis, Betty Davis, Zero Mostel, Kay Ballard and Duke Ellington. His work has also been collected by the American Endangered Species Foundation, Apollo Space Program, RCA Records, Alva Museum Reproductions and New Southwest Art Magazine.
Location:
Cerritos Civic Center
Artist: James T. Russell
Media: Stainless Steel and Granite
Installation date:
November 2006
The City of Cerritos proudly dedicates the Cerritos Veterans Memorial in honor of those who have defended our nation’s freedom by serving in the United States Armed Forces. The City thanks the many people of the community, including the members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Cerritos-Artesia Post #1846, for their valuable contributions to the memorial’s development.
Designed by sculptor James T. Russell, the Cerritos Veterans Memorial consists of a highly polished stainless steel sculpture rising from a 20-foot circular black granite reflecting pool surrounded by five podiums. The podiums are emblazoned with a three-dimensional gold star on the front façade, with the military seal from each branch of the United States Armed Forces placed at the top of the podiums. Russell was chosen to create the memorial as his timeless design features an uplifting expression of spirit and shows respect, honor and dignity to veterans.
In addition, the memorial includes a plaque in recognition and appreciation of the United States Merchant Marine recognized by the United States Congress for their military-related service and valiant support of the United States Armed Forces during World War II in active ocean-going service from December 7, 1941 through December 31, 1946. The memorial also includes a plaque in recognition and appreciation of 32 special groups recognized by the United States Congress for their military-related service and valiant support of the United States Armed Forces during World War I and World War II.
The memorial is also inscribed in memory of Lieutenant Colonel Mario Carazo. Lieutenant Colonel Carazo lived in Cerritos from age 3 until his graduation from Cerritos High School in 1987, when he entered the United States Naval Academy. He was killed on July 22, 2010 while flying a combat mission over Helmand province in Afghanistan.
In addition to developing the memorial, Veterans from Cerritos are encouraged to submit their information for presentation on the website. The City thanks the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Cerritos-Artesia Post #1846 for its assistance with gathering and reviewing material for the website.
Location:
Cerritos City Hall, 18125 Bloomfield Avenue
Artist: George Lundeen
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
February 1997
Now a favorite of Cerritos children, the dolphin fountain at the Cerritos Civic Center was unveiled in February 1997 as part of the renovation of City Hall's front entrance. The 34-foot-diameter fountain features leaping dolphins cast in bronze surrounded by dramatic water spouts and dancing droplets.
Also during the renovation, new staircases to City Hall's first and second floors were designed to wrap around the fountain, and a new concrete ramp was added to provide easy access for City Hall visitors who use wheelchairs.
The dolphins were crafted by Colorado artist George Lundeen. A native of Nebraska, Lundeen was a Fulbright-Hayes Scholar studying at the Academia de Belle Arte in Florence, Italy. He holds a masters in Fine Arts from the University of Illinois and a bachelor of arts from Hastings College in Nebraska. Lundeen established his sculpting studio in Loveland, Colorado in the mid-1970s where he currently lives and works. He has been commissioned to sculpt portraits and interpretive works for universities, cities, foundations and corporations nationwide, and his work has garnered top awards from the National Sculpture Society, the National Academy of Design and Allied Artists of America.
Location:
Cerritos Civic Center
Artist: Terry Braunstein
Medium: Mosaic
Installation date:
November 2006
In celebration of the City’s 50th anniversary, the City of Cerritos is pleased to dedicate the insightful sculpture “Illuminations” as an anniversary gift to the community. Created by artist Terry Braunstein, the sculpture is in the form of a 10-foot-tall open book, symbolizing the Cerritos Library and the community’s support for education. The sculpture depicts scenes from the community’s history accented with classical artwork. The piece also features City landmarks and facilities with rich colors, details and textures. “Illuminations” includes pages with openings to add visual interest and to encourage interaction with the artwork.
Braunstein created the “Illuminations” sculpture from mosaic, glass and stainless steel. The piece features a Tree of Life theme representing the commitment of the City and its residents to ongoing growth and development through the continuing pursuit of knowledge. The theme also evokes the City’s park-like environment and its recognition as a Tree City USA. The pages of the piece illuminate the concepts of heritage, education, prosperity, diversity, environment and culture, which represent important values in this community.
Location:
Cerritos Civic Center
Artists: James Vilona and Kevin Box
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
September 2008
Donated by Marilyn and Dennis McGorman
“Non-Fiction Book Bench” is located in the Cerritos Civic Center in the area west of the Cerritos Library. The bench is adjacent to the “Amaryllis” fountain.
The art piece, created by artists James Vilona and Kevin Box, represents a large open book with the cover and crumpled pages bent to form a bench which can adequately seat two adults. It is made of bronze with white patina pages accented with gold along the edges. The cover of the book is created in the likeness of a rich brown antiqued textured leather. The bench is 3 feet, 2 1/2 inches high, 4 feet wide and 2 feet deep.
“Non-Fiction Book Bench” was generously donated to the Cerritos Library and the residents of Cerritos by long time Cerritos residents Marilyn and Dennis McGorman.
Location
Cerritos Civic Center, Bloomfield Avenue at 183rd Street
Artist
Mark Leichliter
Media
Bronze and Stainless Steel, Fountain
Installation date
March 2002
Mark Leichliter
Born 1966, Loveland, Colorado
“Tsunami,” 2001
Bronze and Stainless Steel, Fountain
10 foot diameter
Mark Leichliter's sculpture “Tsunami” is displayed in the park-like Cerritos Civic Center in the area south of the Cerritos Library. The sculpture depicts a seismic sea wave and is constructed of two elements: a massive (8 foot diameter, 1 inch thick) disk of stainless steel and two cast bronze wave shapes. The stainless steel disk represents the earth's tectonic plates. A bubbling fountain at the base of the piece conceals the sculpture's secure anchoring system and gives “Tsunami ” the appearance of being suspended on water.
Leichliter's inspiration for “Tsunami” was humanity's ability to overcome hardships, including the destruction caused by seismic sea waves. The conical base has a fissure-shaped trough filled with flowing water. This element divides the space around the sculpture, creating a focal point of the cascading water that serves as a symbol for the human process of healing and transcending the tragedy of natural disasters.
Leichliter's involvement with artwork began in 1988 when he became the production manager, welder and enlargement assistant for Dan Ostermiller, an internationally renown sculptor. In 1990, Leichliter apprenticed under Swedish sculptor Kent Ullberg, serving as production manager and specializing in monumental sculpture. Leichliter began sculpting full-time when he completed his apprenticeship in 1994.
In addition to regularly presenting his work in exhibitions, Leichliter has completed the following commissions: “Solar Sails” for the City of Paramount, California; “Inner Dance” for Auto Nation, Cerritos; “Spirit of Troy” for the Toal/Chambers Collection, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; “Haiku” for the Michael Harkey Collection, Edmond, Oklahoma; “Caballo” for American Stores Headquarters, Salt Lake City, Utah and “Tropism” for a private collector.
Location:
Cerritos City Hall,
18125 Bloomfield Avenue
Artist: Charles Arnoldi
Media: Oil painting on wood panel in 13 joined parts
The paintings "Blink" by Charles Arnoldi and "Red + Black" and "Skowhegen" by Ed Moses are displayed on the second floor of Cerritos City Hall. The paintings were donated to the City of Cerritos' Artwork in Public Places program on August 8, 2013 by McKenna Volkswagen of Cerritos Auto Square.
Arnoldi is a prominent Southern California artist and is known for creating brightly colored abstract paintings that incorporate the use of wood. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1946 and came to California after graduating from high school. He attended Ventura Junior College and Chouinard Art Institute. His work has been exhibited extensively and has been collected by numerous museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago; Guggenheim, Bilbao, Spain; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Museum of Modern Art; and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Moses is also a prominent Southern California artist and his work has been exhibited since 1949. He was born in Long Beach in 1926 and he holds bachelor of arts and master of arts degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He has taught at UCLA; California State University, Long Beach; California State University, Bakersfield; and Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. His artwork has been exhibited internationally, and his pieces are included in the collections of numerous museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Location:
Cerritos City Hall,
18125 Bloomfield Avenue
Artist: Ed Moses
Media: Acrylic and glitter on canvas
Installation date:
March 2014
Painting donated to the City of Cerritos by McKenna Volkswagen of Cerritos Auto Square
The paintings "Blink" by Charles Arnoldi and "Red + Black" and "Skowhegen" by Ed Moses are displayed on the second floor of Cerritos City Hall. The paintings were donated to the City of Cerritos' Artwork in Public Places program on August 8, 2013 by McKenna Volkswagen of Cerritos Auto Square.
Arnoldi is a prominent Southern California artist and is known for creating brightly colored abstract paintings that incorporate the use of wood. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1946 and came to California after graduating from high school. He attended Ventura Junior College and Chouinard Art Institute. His work has been exhibited extensively and has been collected by numerous museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago; Guggenheim, Bilbao, Spain; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Museum of Modern Art; and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Moses is also a prominent Southern California artist and his work has been exhibited since 1949. He was born in Long Beach in 1926 and he holds bachelor of arts and master of arts degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He has taught at UCLA; California State University, Long Beach; California State University, Bakersfield; and Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. His artwork has been exhibited internationally, and his pieces are included in the collections of numerous museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Location:
Cerritos City Hall,
18125 Bloomfield Avenue
Artist: Ed Moses
Media: Acrylic and glitter on burlap
Installation date:
March 2014
Painting donated to the City of Cerritos by McKenna Volkswagen of Cerritos Auto Square
The paintings "Blink" by Charles Arnoldi and "Red + Black" and "Skowhegen" by Ed Moses are displayed on the second floor of Cerritos City Hall. The paintings were donated to the City of Cerritos' Artwork in Public Places program on August 8, 2013 by McKenna Volkswagen of Cerritos Auto Square.
Arnoldi is a prominent Southern California artist and is known for creating brightly colored abstract paintings that incorporate the use of wood. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1946 and came to California after graduating from high school. He attended Ventura Junior College and Chouinard Art Institute. His work has been exhibited extensively and has been collected by numerous museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago; Guggenheim, Bilbao, Spain; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Museum of Modern Art; and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Moses is also a prominent Southern California artist and his work has been exhibited since 1949. He was born in Long Beach in 1926 and he holds bachelor of arts and master of arts degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He has taught at UCLA; California State University, Long Beach; California State University, Bakersfield; and Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. His artwork has been exhibited internationally, and his pieces are included in the collections of numerous museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Location:
Cerritos Library, 18025 Bloomfield Avenue
Artist: Hung Liu
Media: Oil on canvas
Installation date:
March 2002
Hung Liu stresses the significance of education for Chinese youth in her painting commissioned for the Cerritos Library. Its title (Ling Yun) is a metaphor describing the heroes of old who had "ambition so high" that their minds soared Above the Clouds. Liu began this painting as she does all her work, with an historic black-and-white photograph. She then layers her canvas with Chinese symbols which reflect both myths and meanings.
The children in the painting are diligently studying their lessons. They ascend above a palace roof, an image taken from a 10th Century Sung Dynasty painting. The children are surrounded by flying cranes often associated in Chinese mythology with the heavenly qualities of longevity and serenity. Liu visualizes these children as learning their cultural heritage and transmitting its blessings beyond the present and into the future. As veils of memory are portrayed by the artist's dripping paint technique, the vast potential for life and knowledge is melded with the richness of the past.
In the bottom half of the painting, the Lotus flower has roots in the earth, portrayed as a plain background. However, as the flower blossoms a desired and pure state is achieved. The Lotus is revered and associated with Buddhism's concept of serenity. Other symbols in the painting are a snake that symbolizes the creation date of this work, the Year of the Snake, and chop marks identifying ownership by collectors who regard their art as a treasure.
Location:
Cerritos Library, 18025 Bloomfield Avenue
Artist: Lita Albuquerque
Media: Plaster, pigment and white gold leaf on maple panel
Installation date:
March 2002
Planetary Octave is a companion piece
Auric Field, a commissioned companion piece to Albuquerque’s Planetary Octave, can be viewed as an entry or closure to the installation. Auric Field derives from an ongoing series that Lita Albuquerque has employed to investigate her ideas about the origin of the universe and the relationship of man to the cosmos. A white gold circle emerges from dense black, natural pigment and is surrounded by an aura of lapis lazuli. The intensity of pigments and the contrasting colors visually radiate, causing an observer to experience a sense of energy, light and movement. Albuquerque speaks of elements in her work as metaphors. The undiluted pigments are symbols of the earth since they are substances mined deep within the ground. The circle is an emblem of the cosmos. The quality of light Albuquerque creates is a reference to the spiritual origins of man and the universe as expressed in many religious philosophies.
Capital Project: Covered Site (LI#1)
Location:
Cerritos Library, 18025 Bloomfield AvenUE
Artist: Peter Hopkins
Media: Mixed media including holographic foil and resin
Installation date:
March 2002
In Capital Project: Covered Site (LI#1), Peter Hopkins produces extraordinary and seductive surfaces and then makes us look again by questioning what is below the gloss. He uses mixed media to create images of beauty, which emphasize the sensual and tactile. Hopkins incorporates influences of stained glass windows that have captivated audiences throughout western history. Other surfaces are contemporary in their resin coverings; people familiar with the slick plastic finishes of art developed from the California airplane industry during the 1960’s find themselves perfectly comfortable.
These paintings are made without paint or brush. They are constructed of materials such as holographic foils, cheap, glittery fabrics, household cleaning liquids, cosmetics, surgical dyes and recycled rubbish. Conceptually, Hopkins is asking us to consider the dichotomies between outside and inside. He awes us with the beauty of materials that in another context as chemicals or debris become destructive to the natural environment and ourselves. Peter Hopkins' images seem to undulate as we walk by; as the light changes, so do our perceptions of color, depth, and composition. Ultimately, Hopkins is urging us to view more deeply, to look beyond the exterior and to find knowledge and understanding through both analytic reflection and emotional response.
Location:
Cerritos Library, 18025 Bloomfield Avenue
Artist: Bruce Everett
Medium: Oil on canvas
Installation date:
March 2002
Las Virgenes Valley by artist Bruce Everett was commissioned specifically for its site in the Cerritos Library’s craftsman area. In this work, Everett captures the sensibility of a California scene painting. However, he differs from Plein Air artists and those of the Arts and Crafts Movement in his use of contemporary materials, a larger scale, and the application of paint to emphasize the drama of nature through contrasts of dark and light. Landscape imagery was a typical subject for California paintings found in Craftsman era houses between 1910-1930. Everett has embraced California landscape imagery throughout his career.
Early Twentieth Century artists painted directly from nature, setting up their easels and paints outdoors to capture the scenes before them. This technique limited the size and perspective of their work. Everett also works in natural settings, but he takes his camera and photographs the landscape. Back in the studio, he develops his composition by juxtaposing landscape and cloud formations until he is satisfied with the result. He then projects the final image onto the canvas and draws a simplified outline from which he begins to paint.
Las Virgenes Valley captures the passage of time and the experience of place. The layers of information lead onward from the foreground that is filled with sage to the hills laden with brush, to the mountains and then to the clouds. In this manner, Everett creates a sense of mystery and participation, prompting us to question and imagine, “What is beyond each of the landscape vistas?” Gazing at this towering painting, a viewer may be filled with awe at the wondrous bounty of California’s landscape, which inspired reverence among the early settlers to our state. However, the viewer also may become aware of how quickly the environment is disappearing.
Location:
Cerritos Library, 18025 Bloomfield Avenue
Artist: Karen Koblitz
Media: Ceramic tiles-hand carved, press mold technique; Slab built and wheel thrown objects
Installation date:
March 2002
When Karen Koblitz created nonFICTION for the Art Deco area at the Cerritos Library, she carefully considered the colors and decorative details of the site’s interior. She also examined the art, architecture and ornamentation of the Art Deco Movement (circa 1920s) before presenting a final design that would become the model for this ceramic relief. Studying the history of decorative motifs is not a new process for Koblitz, and is a discipline that intrigues and inspires her. It appears in earlier work where she looked to the California Arts and Crafts Movement for inspiration and then created a series of tile wall pieces. For another series, she studied the works of Henri Matisse, her favorite artist. Another aspect of Koblitz’s art has been her enduring passion for Italian ceramics. She traveled to Italy during college and then returned in 1990 to spend time at a leading factory in Deruta, one of the major centers for maiolica ceramics. Here she gained respect for the history of maiolica ceramics, designed dinnerware, and learned about patterning, color and surface texture.
For the library project, Koblitz considered the purpose of the young adult space that was chosen for her commission. She then created slab built or wheel thrown objects - a mystical lamp, a globe, a computer and mouse and books to place on the nonFICTION shelf. The genie lamp signifies the hopes and dreams possessed by this generation on the brink of leadership and the globe represents the world that is soon to be placed in their hands. The computer stands for the ever-advancing role of technology and the books are icons that relate the library’s mission as a repository for transmission of past, present and future knowledge. Koblitz calls her objects “Still Lifes,” and she thinks of them as “contemporary collectibles,” symbols of today’s popular culture placed within the context of both Art Deco and ceramic history.
Rich in the use of color, this playful tableau is filled with dynamic patterns and subtle textures. Using the press mold technique, the artist begins by carving her original design into the clay. While the clay is still wet, she forms a plaster mold and then removes it to produce a negative image. Clay slabs are placed on the plaster form, pressure is applied and the resulting positive image is released and cut to the correct size. Each handmade tile has its own signature with varying surface density and texture that adds to overall interest and complexity. To achieve lively color, Koblitz applies an under-glaze colorant before a preliminary bisque firing. She fires the pieces or tiles again with a transparent, glossy or matte glaze on special tile setters that give an even heat distribution throughout the kiln producing a consistent glaze color. Koblitz has written, “I appreciate and enjoy the expressive quality of color and like to utilize matte surfaces against the high gloss, and the opaque against the transparent.” When all the individual pieces are completed, the tiles are attached in their final format to a wooden frame with a tile adhesive.
Location:
Cerritos Library, 18025 Bloomfield Avenue
Artist: Al Held
Media: Acrylic on canvas
Installation date:
March 2002
The primary colors and geometric shapes of Al Held’s Quattro Centric XIV reflect the contemporary forms and primary colors in the interior space of the Cerritos Library’s second floor. The artist has effectively used a large-scale format to explore the boundaries of geometry in two dimensional space. He has created a painting that exudes a powerful and futuristic presence.
Location:
Cerritos Library, 18025 Bloomfield Avenue
Artist: Jim Zhenhua Zhang
Media: Watercolor and ink on rice paper
Installation date:
March 2002
“A misty morning is about to commence as a hint of sunlight illuminates the desolate landscape. A gentle breeze passes through the willow trees and the ground begins to come to life. Teal green grass presses through the melted snow and life begins again after the long winter.” These are the words of Jim Zhenhua Zhang, writing about his work, "Spring Breeze." His painting, based on a similar work from 1997 titled “Springtime,” is an image of a serene lakeshore that evokes memories of Zhang’s home town located in the Jiangsu Province in China.
Spring Breeze contains elements of traditional Chinese painting such as the diptych format and the use of calligraphy and washes to create a contemplative atmosphere. The art of Chinese painting emphasizes spiritual aspects of nature, asking the artist to look within, awaken the spirit, and become one with nature. The outcome of this process is a sense of timelessness and tranquility. In “Spring Breeze,” Zhang arranges grass and trees into flattened patterns of color and imagery without shading or transitions between day and night. There is no concept of perspective, nor any foreground or background. Instead, Zhang looks to Sung Dynasty landscapes and creates spatial relationships that have dreamlike qualities rather than the perception of distance found in western art.
Location:
Cerritos Library, 18025 Bloomfield Avenue
Artist: Soonja Oh Kim
Media: Muriatic acid, enamel on ink on aluminum over wood construction
Installation date:
March 2002
Soonja Oh Kim explores the relationship of opposites in her wall piece, Two Figures. This work combines two-dimensional painting with three-dimensional sculpture, expressing a concept of contrasting dualities that has challenged the artist since her student years. The work embodies both geometric and organic shapes with one panel containing a flowing contour and the other remaining a delineated rectangle. Kim’s aluminum over-wood-structure appears at once hard and soft, old and new, heavy and weightless. The etched and painted surface exhibits spontaneity and order, as well as simplicity and complexity.
By pouring muriatic acid over the panels, Kim permits the acid to penetrate the aluminum and produce textured, painterly patterns of abstraction. She has mastered this process, but an element of chance is always present. Exactly how the acid will fall and react with the metal surface is a tenuous balance between chance and control that intrigues her. Kim then brushes an ink wash over the piece, freely emphasizing random patterns which often resemble shapes of clouds. The resulting patina has an ancient, historic quality while the totality of the structure is completely contemporary, a minimalist geometry of black and red.
By titling the piece Two Figures, the artist associates her seemingly non-objective format with the human body and refers to its red siding as a symbol for the internal and organic. The external may be considered the aluminum skin, sometimes compared to Asian kimonos, and more recently to Asian scrolls. This dialogue of contrasts portrays the confluence of East and West present in all of Kim’s work, juxtaposing expressionistic energy with Zen-like tranquility.
Location:
Cerritos Library, 18025 Bloomfield Avenue
Artist: Dale Chihuly
Medium: Blown glass and steel
Installation date:
March 2002
The Cerritos Library’s six-part installation by artist Dale Chihuly is a mix of dazzling blown glass wall sconces. Looking like sea anemones, wild flower arrangements or spun sugar candies, these glass figures display lyrical lines and sensuous, lambent amber tones which grace the Library's "Main Street." The work incorporates hybrid forms from a distinguished series that Chihuly began in 1995, a two-year international project entitled Chihuly Over Venice. With the assistance of glass factories in Finland, Ireland and Mexico, the project produced 14 Chandeliers which were placed at various sites over the canals of Venice.
Location:
Cerritos Library, 18025 Bloomfield Avenue
Artist: Pat Steir
Media: Mixed media drawing on paper
Installation date:
March 2002
An avid student of art history, Pat Steir draws from her knowledge of both eastern and western art traditions in creating drawings and paintings. Looking at western art history, she re-interprets ideas and styles, creating new and original works with their foundations in the past. Absorbing Chinese painting and thought, Steir is influenced by the Daoist concept that painting is considered to be “thought in action.” Her work incorporates the Chinese approach to art, which blends contemplation and careful planning with the completely spontaneous nature of creation. Accordingly, for Steir, thought, study and interpretation always precede the action of committing pen to paper or paint to canvas.
“Untitled” in the Cerritos Library Art Collection is part of a series of paintings and drawings executed during the 1980s. Steir was fascinated with the nature of water, and she found many sources for study in the art of Asia and Europe. These influences included Katsushika Hokusai’s color woodcut, “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” from the 1820s, and Gustave Courbet’s 1869 “The Stormy Sea.”
Leonardo da Vinci’s investigations of waves (ca. 1513) and nineteenth century artist J.M.W. Turner’s paintings of storms at sea also enhance the symbolism and role of water in Chinese painting. In paying homage to the artists of the past, Steir demonstrates her understanding of art history and brings new ideas to the Library’s wave drawing.
The drawing, executed on a large irregular sheet of paper with graphite, crayon, pastel, charcoal and gouache, depicts the force of nature. Its size and assertively marked lines express the robust energy of the artist and suggest the power and dynamics of water as it breaks on the shore.
Artist: Shelley Iger Sivak
Media: Fused and Slumped Glass
Installation date:
February 2005
“Along the Way” was created by artist Shelley Iger Sivak, a native of Bakersfield, California. The piece is made of fused and slumped glass and measures approximately 4 feet by 8 feet. The piece is displayed in the lobby of the Liberty Park Community Center.
The art piece shows a backdrop of three vibrantly colored glass panels signifying the natural beauty of California. The variety of people and cultures in California are represented by bits of intertwined colored and iridescent glass that float across the surface. Overlaying the rich background are two clear textured panels reminiscent of local history. Footprints of cattle overlaid by tire tracks recall the beginnings of Dairy Valley; a place where cattle outnumbered residents 29 to one. Those days are now a distant memory, as Cerritos has become a thriving community.
The second piece references the history and progress of Cerritos as symbolized by the transition of a barren vine into a lush flowering vine. The once rural landscape has transformed as years pass and continues to develop, becoming more and more beautiful and a place filled with opportunity.
Location:
CareMore Building, 12900 Park Plaza Drive
Artist: James T. Russell
Media: Stainless Steel
Installation date:
October 2010
"Angelic Duet," a 38-foot tall stainless steel sculpture by artist James Russell, is located at the CareMore office building located at 12900 Park Plaza Drive in the Cerritos Towne Center. The artwork is composed of two linear stainless steel structures. The taller piece is 38 feet tall, and the shorter piece is 36 feet tall. The contemporary art piece has strong, clean bold lines paired with gentle undulating curves. The artwork was originally commissioned by the State of California in 1978 as part of its Art in Public Places program, and was installed at the Junipero Serra State Office Building in Los Angeles. Subsequently the building was sold to the federal government and the artwork was removed and stored in Sacramento since 2003. Over the years, the California Arts Council was unable to find a suitable location for the piece, and decided to seek an agency with a well recognized public art program that would provide a prominent location for the sculpture. The California Arts Council and the California Department of General Services made the piece available to the City of Cerritos in 2010 at no cost for 30 years, with options available to renegotiate the contract prior to the expiration date. The sculpture was rededicated on October 23, 2010.
Architecture as Art (United Oil gas station)
Artist: Kevin Oreck
Media: Glass
Installation date:
April 2012
The front elevation of the convenience store building is made of translucent glass strips set at various angles to mimic cascading water. A shallow reflecting pool featured at the base of the glass wall reinforces the waterfall concept.
Location:
Aria Luxury Apartment Homes
Artist: Kathleen Caricof
Media: Basalt Stone and Steel
Installation date:
June 2016
“Aria,” by Kathleen Caricof, is composed of two carved black-brown basalt stones separated by a panel of cor-ten steel and complemented with bold colored patina steel accents. The sculpture stands approximately 8 feet high and 3 ½ feet wide and is placed atop a black granite platform. A surrounding fountain provides a dramatic effect to the sculpture and a calming water movement to the piece.
“Aria” was commissioned for the Aria Luxury Apartment Homes by the property owner and developer, The Picerne Group.
Caricof is a member of the National Sculptor’s Guild and was commissioned by the City of Cerritos to create the Cerritos Air Disaster Memorial that is displayed in the Cerritos Sculpture Garden. She also sculpted “Balance,” an art piece installed at the northeast corner of South Street and Carmenita Road in the City of Cerritos. Based in Costa Mesa, California, Caricof is known for creating soft-curved contemporary works of art using various types of stone and metals.
Location:
At the northeast corner of South Street and Carmenita Road
Artist: Kathleen Caricof
Media: Cor-ten steel and Granite
Installation date:
March 2006
“Balance” is a contemporary red and black granite art piece that measures approximately 6 feet high and 4 feet wide and is placed on a 34-inch pedestal made of cor-ten steel and black granite. The artwork is bordered by landscaping of seasonal flowers and plants and is attractively up-lighted for night viewing.
The piece was created by Kathleen Caricof of Denver, Colorado, who also created the “Cerritos Air Disaster Memorial.”
Location:
Plaza 183
Artist: Deanne Sabeck
Media: Stainless steel and red/orange Dichroic Glass
Installation date:
August 2016
“California Poppy” by Deanne Sabeck is a contemporary piece that deals with refracting light, color and form. The sculpture is 8 feet high, 5 feet wide and 5 feet deep. The piece changes colors depending on the angle of the sun or light, using dichroic glass, which divides the light spectrum to transmit one color and reflect its opposite. It is an uplifting, ever-changing piece.
“California Poppy” is one of four art pieces installed at Plaza 183 that were inspired by the native landscape and abstract and literal interpretations of California native flora. The overall motif leverages vibrant colors to complement the warm and natural hues of the Plaza 183 architecture.
Sabeck is the owner of Deanne Sabeck Studios LLC in Encinitas, California, and the Kuivato Gallery in Sedona, Arizona. Her artwork has been commissioned by organizations such as the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the San Diego Unified Port District and White Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles. She received the San Diego Art Prize Emerging Artist Award in 2012 and was named one of the Top 10 Stars of San Diego by “San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles” in 2010.
Location:
Plaza 183
Artist: Brian Keith
Media: Steel, bronze and yellow resin
Installation date:
August 2016
“California Yarrow” by Brian Keith is a contemporary sculpture inspired by the umbrella-like canopy of the California yarrow. Three sculptures measure 96 inches, 85 inches and 74 inches tall. The color expression is a perfect complement to the Plaza 183 artistic program of natural California flora.
“California Yarrow” is one of four art pieces installed at Plaza 183 that were inspired by the native landscape and abstract and literal interpretations of California native flora. The overall motif leverages vibrant colors to complement the warm and natural hues of the architecture.
Keith has gained recognition as an accomplished sculptor of portraits, monuments and limited edition works. His natural ability for storytelling enables him to create evocative, energetic compositions of contemporary subject matter and style. Keith’s honors include Professional Membership to the National Sculpture Society and Professional Artist Membership to the California Art Club. His bronze sculptures and oil paintings can be found in public and private collections throughout the United States.
Location:
Cerritos Surgical Center
Artist: Jon Seeman
Medium: Steel
Installation date:
April 2008
“Contained Energy” is located just outside the Cerritos Surgical Center, located on the northwest corner of Carmenita Rd. and 166th St.
The hand-fabricated sculpture, created by artist Jon Seeman, is an abstract work made of welded hot-rolled steel and finished with a zinc enamel in a brown earth-tone finish. “Contained Energy” is 6 feet, 3 inches high, and sits on a steel base and a concrete pedestal.
Artist: Kevin Robb
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
May 2004
“Dragonfly” is a contemporary bronze sculpture that was created by sculptor Kevin Robb. It sits on a stainless steel base with granite tile and features pieces of fabricated bronze shaped into graceful forms meant to convey a feeling of life, quiet energy and intimacy. The bronze pieces were created to resemble ancient, unearthed markers of a treasured time or place, and feature a rough-hewn, earthy texture.
Robb's art pieces are known for reflecting a natural curiosity and a keen understanding of how positive and negative space, shadow and light work together.
Dome with Sculpture Undulating Spire
Location:
12800 Center Court Drive
Artists: John Spohrer and Lyle London
Media: Aluminum and Stainless Steel
Installation date:
April 2009
The dome structure and spire represent a creative collaboration between the building’s architect John Spohrer and sculptor Lyle London. The four geometric arrays on the dome are composed of 12 aluminum bands. These bands create the transparent surface of the dome, which is crowned by the 17-foot tall stainless steel sculpture “Undulating Spire.” The 45-foot diameter dome weighs approximately 13,000 pounds. Computer-controlled LED lights create the illusion of the dome hovering over the building at night.
Location:
Ivy Park at Cerritos affordable senior housing community
Artist: Michael Maiden
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
August 2002
Oregon artist Michael Maiden, nationally known for his wildlife sculptures, created the dramatic “Falcon” sculpture that greets visitors to Ivy Park at Cerritos.
Cast from nearly 1,800 pounds of bronze, the sculpture depicts a falcon in flight, using his 12-foot wing span to “rise” from a fountain below. The falcon, official mascot of Cerritos College, is located on the corner of Studebaker Road and New Falcon Way.
Raised on a ranch in Washington state, Maiden parlayed his fascination with wildlife into an artistic career, trading his hunting rifle for modeling clay. He earned a bachelor's degree in fine art and education from Central Washington State University in 1972, later joining the Army National Guard and becoming a public school teacher. He established the Maiden Foundry in 1975, eventually gaining worldwide attention for his highly detailed sculptures of wildlife.
“It's not enough to create sculpture simply by mastering the modeling media,” he has said. “You must also have a connection to the spirit of wildlife…becoming an expert on their life cycles and behaviors, developing a natural sensitivity to the animal's being.”
Each of his works is cast in solid bronze, working from an original sculpted model by selectively applying color-rich patinas in distinct contrast to highly polished metal surfaces.
Maiden's work can be found in many museums, fine art galleries and corporate collections around the world. Most notably, he created the Statue of Freedom at Freedom Park in Arlington, VA, a bald eagle for Crystal Cathedral and the Roslyn Miner Memorial in Washington.
Location:
Cerritos Plaza Walk
Artist: Daniela Mocan
Media: Corten steel
Installation date:
May 2015
“The Family Tree,” by Daniela Mocan, is composed of three corten steel panels ranging in height from 7 to 9 feet tall and measuring 2-1/2 inches thick. The panels are finished in a natural rust patina and jet cut in a stylized contemporary fashion to reflect a family of trees, symbolizing strength, endurance, growth and family. The artwork is enhanced with lush landscaping and lighting that plays against the positive and negative spaces of the artwork. Lights are situated in front of and behind the art piece and are programmed to alternate from the front to the back sides at three- to five-minute intervals.
“The Family Tree” was created for the Cerritos Plaza Walk development, owned by the Olson Company.
Mocan has an extensive background in the arts and has worked with the Olson Company on a number of its residential projects. Mocan’s inspiration is often taken from nature and translated into simple artistic forms that further enhance the environment.
Location:
Fountain Walk affordable senior housing community
Artist: Carol Gold
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
December 2007
“Fiesta” is located just outside the Fountain Walk affordable senior housing community, located on the corner of 183rd Street and Carmenita Road.
The sculpture, created by artist Carol Gold, is titled “Fiesta” and depicts two ladies dancing. The piece is made of bronze and stands approximately 5 feet, 10 inches high. “Fiesta” is part of a limited edition of seven pieces.
Fireflies, Abby and Sunshowers
Location:
Babies 'R' Us, 11540 South Street
Artist: Jane DeDecker
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
August 1999 and October 2004 ('Sunshowers')
Four bronze sculptures capturing the carefree nature of childhood are installed at the entrance to the Babies 'R' Us shopping center, located at 11540 South Street.
The four figures are placed in a fountain of rocks and waterfalls, circled by bright yellow gazanias. “Fireflies” depicts a boy of five or six inspecting the bugs he has caught in an old jelly jar. “Abby,” on the west side of the fountain, features a young girl gazing down at her hand-picked spring bouquet. “Sunshowers,” the newest figure added to the sculpture in 2004, stands near the very top of the fountain and depicts a young girl basking under a large sunflower.
The figures were crafted by Colorado artist Jane DeDecker, who often uses her many nieces and nephews as models. The daughter of an Iowa farmer, DeDecker and her family moved to Loveland, Colorado in the early 1970's, where she followed her mother's artistic path, working her way up to the position of master craftsman at Lundeen Studios. Now self-employed, she has since created more than 150 limited-edition bronze sculptures, many of which have been commissioned for display at government facilities, schools, libraries and corporate headquarters across the country. Her work is also included in many private art collections, including the late singer Michael Jackson's.
Location:
Artist: Darrell Davis
Media: Bronze
Location: Cerritos Mitsubishi, 10944 South Street
Installation date: December 2013
"Flying Heron" is a simplistic, elegant art piece depicting a heron taking flight. It was created by artist Darrell Davis and was installed at the Cerritos Mitsubishi site in December 2013 where it serves as a gateway to the Cerritos Auto Square.
The art piece is 7 feet tall, 3 feet wide and 4 feet deep. It is cast in bronze and is a limited edition of eight. The statue was installed on an existing fountain pedestal at the site and is enhanced by water jets and lighting.
Davis specializes in sculpting wildlife figures and has been a recognized sculptor for more than 20 years. He has installations throughout the country, including in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maryland and Texas. He has received numerous national honors and awards, including the President's Award from the American Artists Professional League in New York and the Sculpture Award of Merit from the American Society of Marine Artists in Virginia.
Location:
Emerald Villas affordable senior housing community
Artist: Sandy Scott
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
January 2000
“Fountain of the Rain Forest,” an intricate bronze sculpture and fountain depicting exotic wildlife, has been installed at the entrance to the Emerald Villas affordable senior housing community. The piece can be seen on the west side of Carmenita Road, south of Coyote Creek.
Crafted in Colorado by artist Sandy Scott, the sculpture features three wild birds balanced on top of a tangle of rain forest vines. “My goal was to create stimulating textures,” Scott says.
Trained at the Kansas City Art Institute, Scott is on the teaching staff at the prestigious Scottsdale Artists' School in Arizona, the Loveland Academy of Fine Art in Colorado and the Fechin Institute in New Mexico.
Her many awards include a Gold Medal for Sculpture from the National Academy of Western Art, as well as honors from New York's National Academy of Design, Allied Artists and the American Artist's Professional League.
Her clientele includes former President Gerald Ford, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kathie Lee Gifford and many universities, hotels and museums across the country.
Location:
Centerstone Housing Tract
Artist: Jane DeDecker
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
June 2001
Artist: Shannon Owen of Art in Metal
Media: Brass, steel and glass
Installation date:
November 1998
Artist: Jasu Shilpi
Media: Bronze
Installation date:
April 2012
The artpiece, created by artist Jasu Shilpi, is a 6-foot-tall bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi. The statue is elevated on a pedestal and lighted for night-time visibility.
Location:
Plaza 183
Artist: Kon Dimopoulos
Media: High performance composites with red paint
Installation date:
August 2016
“Grasslands” by Kon Dimopoulos is a kinetic sculpture featuring individual blades of grass that sway with the wind. Each blade measures 8 to 10 feet high and there are three sections installed in the landscape that are 2 feet square each. Slim rods of polyurethane resin are reinforced with strong, durable and supple glass fibers.
“Grasslands” is one of four art pieces installed at Plaza 183 that were inspired by the native landscape and abstract and literal interpretations of California native flora. The overall motif leverages vibrant colors to complement the warm and natural hues of the architecture.
Dimopoulos’ art addresses globally relevant questions related to ecology and the human condition. His sculptures can be found in public galleries, museums and outdoor sites throughout North America, Australia and New Zealand. Paintings, drawings and prints complement his collection of spatial works. Public art commissions in the United States include “Red Echo” in Palm Springs and “Red Stix” in Seattle. His “The Blue Trees” art piece was named as one of the Top 100 Activism Trends in 2012 for ideas that change the world, and he was a finalist in the Design to Improve Life competition in 2013.
Location:
Lexus of Cerritos, 18303 Studebaker Road
Artist: Mark Leichliter
Media: Bronze with gold leaf finish
Installation date:
February 2002
Location:
Browning Mazda in the Cerritos Auto Square at the northwest corner of South Street and Studebaker Road
Artist: James T. Russell
Medium: Stainless Steel
Installation date:
November 2005
“Intercept” is a 13-foot-tall polished, stainless steel sculpture located at Browning Mazda in the Cerritos Auto Square on the northwest corner of South Street and Studebaker Road. The piece was sculpted by artist James T. Russell of Lomita, California and is fabricated from 10 gauge sheets of stainless steel, which were cut, formed and welded together.
The artwork, which is 7 feet wide and 3 feet deep, is placed on a pedestal which stands approximately three to four feet high and sits in a two-tier reflecting pool. The first level is approximately 12 feet in diameter with a stainless steel edge. It sits on a recessed granite finished base that provides a clear water cascade into a larger reflecting pool that is approximately 20 feet in diameter. The fountain is bordered with a 3 foot landscape area that features seasonal flowers and plants. The outside edge of the planter and pool are finished in a concrete type material, and the fountain and art piece are attractively lighted for night viewing.
Location:
Fountain Plaza
Artist: Jon Seeman
Media: Stainless steel
Installation date: January 2014
“Into the Light” is a modern abstract sculpture created by artist Jon Seeman that was installed at the remodeled Fountain Plaza Shopping Center in Cerritos in January 2014.
The art piece stands 13 feet, 6 inches tall and is 6 feet, 6 inches wide and 30 inches deep. The sculpture is composed of individually made stainless steel forms designed and positioned to create a feeling as though they are drifting apart, providing an illusion of three cascading spheres. The artwork is a limited edition of one and was selected to complement the updated building design of the shopping center.
Seeman is a well-recognized local artist who has been a sculptor for more than 25 years. His work has been displayed in galleries, museum exhibitions, public sites and publications throughout the nation. Seeman is known for fabricating large steel and stainless steel abstract forms with strong angular elements balanced with curvilinear movement.
Location:
Kaiser Permanente Office
Artist: Gerard Basil Stripling
Media: Corten steel
Installation date:
April 2014
"Kindred" is a sculpture created by Gerard Basil Stripling that was installed in front of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building in Cerritos in April 2014.
The artwork is composed of three tall sculptures fabricated in corten steel and accented with bands of different colors of resin. The art pieces stand 10, 12 and 14 feet in height and are surrounded by neutral-colored small stone rocks that complement the Kaiser building and the art pieces. The sculptures are meant to represent the strength found in family and community.
Stripling is a well-recognized local artist who has been a sculptor for more than 10 years. He has public art placements throughout Southern California, including in Brea, Laguna Beach, Irvine, Long Beach and Anaheim. Stripling is known for utilizing shape, color and form in his contemporary artwork.
Location:
Pioneer Villas affordable senior housing development, on Pioneer Boulevard one block north of Del Amo Boulevard
Artist: Rosalind Cook
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
June 2001
Residents and visitors of the Pioneer Villas will be welcomed by familiar faces — a bronze sculpture depicting a grandfather reading to his two grandchildren. This life-size art piece was set upon a reflecting pool at the corner of Pioneer Boulevard and Eberle Street. “Legacy of Literature,” located at the entrance of the Pioneer Villas, shows an affectionate trio enjoying an afternoon sharing a good book. The bronze sculpture is treated with a patina of burgundy brown and smokey blue-green.
Sculptor Rosalind Cook comments, “The purpose of my work is to celebrate life and to connect with a viewer on an emotional level.”
Cook is an instructor at the Loveland Academy of Art, Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, the Fechin Institute in Taos and Scottsdale Artists' School in Arizona. Her work can be seen in places across the country, such as Ronald McDonald Houses, churches, libraries, hospitals and World Vision Headquarters in Washington.
Location:
Del Amo Plaza at the northeast corner of Del Amo Boulevard and Pioneer Boulevard
Artist: Rosalind Cook
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
October 2004
“Lillith” was created by Rosalind Cook, a nationally recognized sculptor, and depicts a graceful, lyrical figure presented in a fountain setting. It is made of bronze and measures 63 inches high.
In “Lillith,” the artist sought to capture movement and a sense of serenity and peace. While studying in Italy, Cook was captivated by the sense of movement reflected in many of the art pieces there. She conveyed this movement in “Lillith” through the drapery, hair and body of the sculpture. A sense of serenity is achieved by water moving through a garland of moss, creating a restful sound.
Cook’s life-size sculptures can be seen across the country in hospitals, libraries, churches and corporate environments.
Location:
Liberty Park
Artist: Mark Lundeen
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
February 2005
A sculpture of President Abraham Lincoln has been installed at the main entrance of the Liberty Park Community Center. “Lincoln,” a life-size sculpture created by nationally recognized sculptor Mark Lundeen, depicts the former president sitting on a bench and holding notes from his Second Inaugural Address given on March 4, 1865.
The sculpture is cast in bronze with a patina of various hues of warm bronze accented with golds, reds, browns and blacks. The bench is also cast in bronze and allows the public to sit with the Lincoln sculpture, touch its features and read the notes on the paper. The sculpture has been installed at a level where those with physical challenges can fully experience the features of the sculpture as well.
When Liberty Park was originally dedicated in 1974, it was named to celebrate the patriotism, liberty and rights that Americans enjoy today. It was determined by the Cerritos City Council that a sculpture of President Lincoln, one of the most popular United States presidents, would be a fitting piece of art for Liberty Park.
Location:
Plaza 183
Artist: Chris Puzio
Medium: Aluminum
Installation date:
August 2016
“Live Oak Tree” by Chris Puzio is a contemporary sculpture that combines the geometry and free flowing nature of an oak tree as a representation of connectedness and outreach. The piece stands 10 feet high and 8 feet wide. The work offers a study of geometry, pattern and structure found within nature, and functions as a visual beacon and unique aesthetic element within Plaza 183.
“Live Oak Tree” is one of four art pieces installed at Plaza 183 that were inspired by the native landscape and abstract and literal interpretations of California native flora. The overall motif leverages vibrant colors to complement the warm and natural hues of the architecture.
Puzio is a San Diego artist who works in multiple mediums, but primarily metal, to create dramatic sculptural and environmental elements. His work has been featured in the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art’s exhibition “Here Not There: San Diego Art Now,” in addition to numerous other exhibitions and shows nationwide. Puzio is a faculty member at Woodbury University School of Architecture, San Diego Campus, and the University of San Diego.
Location:
Transpacific Development Company office building at Cerritos Towne Center
Artist: Denny Haskew
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
August 2002
Colorado artist Denny Haskew created the “Luminaire” sculpture that graces the front of the Transpacific Development Corporation office building at Cerritos Towne Center.
A native of Colorado, Haskew received his bachelor of science degree from the University of Utah in 1971, then served two years in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Today he is actively engaged in the art industry as a sculptor.
Since 1994, Haskew has created several monumental compositions spanning the full spectrum of the figurative genre. As a member of the Potawatomi citizen nation, Haskew has created several pieces of artwork reflecting the Native American and southwestern culture, in addition to exploring abstract forms placing emphasis on the qualities of the types of metal and stone used. Haskew's artwork is intensely personal and honest, reflecting recurring themes of spirit, love, forgiveness, healing, endurance and strength.
Haskew's work can be found in many museums and corporate collections throughout the United States. He has been commissioned for several public art pieces across the nation from California to Washington, D.C.
Location:
CareMore at Cerritos Towne Center
Artist: Gino Miles
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
October 1999
“Lyric Flight,” a bronze sculpture symbolizing flight in technology, was installed in the Cerritos Towne Center in October 1999.
Crafted over seven months by Colorado artist Gino Miles, the 25-foot-tall bronze form was created by bending and melding metal into an abstract, vertical spiral designed to complement the angular building. The 3,100-pound piece was set in place by a crane and anchored to a sturdy concrete foundation on the corner of Towne Center and Park Plaza drives.
A sculptor since the age of 12, Miles developed his skill in Italy where he studied at two universities, taught classes and helped found an art school near Florence for American and German students. He later earned a master's degree in sculpture from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.
Influenced by the ancient ruins of Europe, Miles began work at two prominent bronze foundries in Colorado and New Mexico where he learned the wax casting process of sculpture. His work has since been displayed at top galleries and art shows throughout the west.
Location:
Cerritos Senior Center at Pat Nixon Park (the location of the childhood home of Former First Lady Pat Nixon), 12340 South Street
Artist: Ivan Schwartz
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
March 1997
The Cerritos City Council voted in April 1996 to install a bronze statue of former First Lady Patricia Nixon at the site of her childhood home as a tribute to our City's most notable former resident. It is one of the first life-size, full-body statues ever created in the image of a United States First Lady.
The location of the statue has both historical and sentimental significance. Pat Nixon lived in a modest home on the corner of South Street and Ely Avenue from 1913 to 1930. The City bought the site from Pat Nixon's brother in 1967, later dedicating the land as a park and maintaining her childhood home as a point of interest. In 1978, the home was destroyed by fire and in 1991 the City selected the grounds as the site for the Cerritos Senior Center at Pat Nixon Park, which opened in 1994.
East Coast artist Ivan Schwartz of Studio EIS was selected by the City Council to create the statue. A talented sculptor, Mr. Schwartz is known for his life-size statues of world leaders on display at the Richard Nixon Library in Yorba Linda.
The statue was dedicated on March 1, 1997. Mrs. Nixon is depicted at the age of 55, standing in the Senior Center's rose garden with her hands resting behind her back.
Location:
Heritage Park
Artist: Dee Clements
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
June 2002
This magnificent bronze sculpture captures the bravery and patriotism of Revolutionary War hero Paul Revere who rode to warn American patriots northwest of Boston that the British intended to raid Lexington and Concord. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1863 ballad “Paul Revere's Ride” immortalized Revere's actions and is displayed on the Heritage Park Play Island.
Artist Dee Clements has a masters degree in sculpture and is a member of the National Sculptor's Guild. He has had works commissioned by the McDonald's Corporation, Hewlett-Packard, Inc. and Marriot Ownership Resorts. He has had many pieces placed in both public and private collections.
Clements said: “Creating my first sculpture out of clay I felt I had found my passion and this has continued to be a main thread in my life. Early in my career I enjoyed doing abstract sculpture, but I have always drawn the human figure. Today my direction in sculpture has become the study of anatomy to be used as a tool to capture through the face and figure the spiritual essence of the individual.”
Location:
Los Cerritos Center
Artist: Cliff Garten
Media: Stainless Steel
Installation date:
November 2015
“Quadras” is a contemporary sculpture created by artist Cliff Garten and located adjacent to Macy’s at the Los Cerritos Center. The piece features four cylindrical pockets housing a system of color-changing LED fixtures that light up the sculpture in a haze of brilliant colors at night. The twisted column structure is composed of more than 90 stainless steel rods that reflect and refract sunlight, giving off a gold or silver hue. At sunset, the lights at the base of the pedestal turn on, kicking off a colorful light show. The total height of the artwork is 17 feet tall and 3 feet wide.
The sculpture was commissioned by the Los Cerritos Center as part of a major renovation project at the mall that was approved by the Cerritos City Council in 2014.
Garten is an internationally recognized artist based in Venice, California, who has public art installations throughout the country, including Cerritos. Garten is known for creating a sense of place and excitement with his contemporary stainless steel sculptures that are simple in form and complex in design and fabrication.
Rarin’ to Ride and Baby Greens
Location:
Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill
Artist: George Lundeen (“Rarin’ to Ride”) and Cammie Lundeen (“Baby Greens”)
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
May 2007
“Rarin' to Ride” and “Baby Greens” are located just outside of Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill's main entrance in the Cerritos Towne Center.
The sculptures were created by a husband and wife team. “Rarin’ to Ride,” a life-sized sculpture of a young boy, was created by George Lundeen, who also sculpted the “Joy of Music” at the CCPA and the dolphin fountain in the Civic Center. The depiction of a horse, “Baby Greens,” was sculpted by Cammie Lundeen. The bronze pieces were selected to complement the western theme of the restaurant, and are placed in a simulated wooden corral with pavers and natural landscaping.
“Baby Greens” by Cammie Lundeen
Artist statement: “Baby Greens” is a portrait of one of my foals I raised. I love how comical foals are when they try to graze with their long legs and short necks. The new grass must be worth the effort.
Size: 43" x 58" x 26"
“Rarin’ to Ride” by George W. Lundeen
Artist statement: “There's nothing as good for the inside of a man as the outside of a horse.” Will Rogers knew his way around a horse the same way kids now know their way around a Chevy. This piece, “Rarin' to Ride,” is my idea of the great relationship between man and his four-legged friend.
Size: 48" tall
Location:
RE/MAX building at the northeast corner of Carmenita Road and Artesia Boulevard
Media: Glass, White Marble and Concrete
Installation date:
April 2005
The Re/MAX Fountain is located at 13405 Artesia Boulevard and consists of two tiers. The first or lower tier of the fountain measures 10 feet in diameter and 24 inches in height. It is constructed of four inch glass blocks and incorporates lighting between the glass blocks and the concrete pool. The lower tier is capped with a concrete cover.
The second or upper tier of the fountain is approximately four feet eight inches in diameter and 18 inches above the cap of the lower tier. It is faced with white marble and has eight water outlets which spill into the lower pool area. The center of the upper pool area includes eight white water jets that create a foamy effect. The jets project the water to a height of approximately 24 inches.
The area around the fountain is nicely landscaped with colorful flowers, grass and trees.
Location:
Los Cerritos Center
Artist: Brian Tolle
Media: Stainless Steel
Installation date:
May 2010
The piece, created by artist Brian Tolle, is a fabricated stainless steel sculptural line drawing of a recycled shopping bag. The sculpture is 20 feet high, 16 feet wide and 9 feet deep. The piece is illuminated by built-in LED lights which project a broad range of colors at night. The structure is crimped and textured in places to show that the bag is recycled. Walter H. Deubner invented the shopping bag. The sculpture was commissioned by the Los Cerritos Center as part of a mall expansion and renovation project. In 2010, a new 138,000-square-foot Nordstrom and 36,500-square-feet of new in-line shops opened at the Los Cerritos Center.
Location:
Bloomfield Place at the southwest corner of Artesia Boulevard and Bloomfield Avenue
Artist: Lyle London
Media: Stainless Steel and Aluminum
Installation date:
July 2005
“Rondelle” is installed in front of the Bloomfield Place commercial building located on the southwest corner of Artesia Boulevard and Bloomfield Avenue. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and Chipotle are housed at this location.
The piece was created by artist Lyle London and is fabricated of stainless steel and aluminum with Chromillusion paint in a butter rose color. It measures 84 inches tall and 36 inches wide and stands in a fountain with artistic lighting for night viewing.
London also sculpted “Ocean Dancer,” which is located across the street on the northeast corner of Artesia Boulevard and Bloomfield Avenue. “Rondelle” was designed to complement the “Ocean Dancer” sculpture, in addition to enhancing the architecture of the new building.
Location:
Cerritos Senior Center at Pat Nixon Park, 12340 South Street
Artist: Dee Clements
Medium: Bronze
Installation date:
June 2001
Celebrating the golden years is something in which the Cerritos Senior Center at Pat Nixon Park takes great pride. For several years, staff has sought art pieces that capture the grace of aging, balanced with the strength of happiness. The search ended with the discovery of “Serenade.” Installed in June 2001 at the Cerritos Senior Center, this life-size, bronze sculpture depicts a scene where a gentleman is playing the violin for his lady who is sitting on a park bench, which has an additional seating area where one could sit and rest or be photographed. The artwork stands approximately 76" high, 72" in length and is 48" deep. “Serenade” was placed outside the front of the Senior Center.
Sculptor Dee Clements comments,“'Serenade' depicts love, friendship and loyalty. It is a portrait of two people who have spent their lives together. As they reminisce through symbols of the rose, the book and the violin, the piece shows the deep appreciation of another's unique worth.”
Dee Clements has a master's degree in sculpture and is a member of the National Sculptures' Guild. Dee has also been commissioned by the City to create a sculpture of Paul Revere, which was placed in Heritage Park in 2001.
Location:
BJ’s Restaurant in the Best Plaza Shopping Center, 11101 183rd Street
Artist: Jacquelyn Giuffre, adapted from a mural thought to be created by Howard Cook
Fabricated by: Kreysler & Associates
Medium: Clay
Installation date:
August 2003
“Steel Workers” is a stone-like, three panel bas relief measuring 7 feet high and 29 feet wide. Adapted from an original Works Progress Administration (WPA) mural, this unique piece of sculptural artwork portrays heroic workers from the 1930s, representing core values of respect for the common man and the hard-earned dollars he chooses to spend.
The original mural is thought to have been created by Howard Cook for installation in a Pennsylvania post office. The art was adapted as a sculptural relief by architectural sculptor Jacquelyn Giuffre, who first interpreted the three panels as clay maquettes. Working in alliance with the Northern California art fabricator Kreysler & Associates, the pieces were scanned, digitally enlarged and re-sculpted using a “Computer Numerically Controlled” (CNC) milling process to create the final cast. These casts rendered the final three panels, closely resembling cast or carved stone.
Giuffre has created several sculptures and designs for buildings including the Ronald Regan Court of Appeals Building, St. Joseph's Cathedral in San Jose and the San Francisco Ferry Building. Kreysler & Associates has been commissioned for digital enlarging and fabrication projects for companies including Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Studios, Cingular Wireless and Boeing.
Location:
VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital, Cerritos
Artist: Lyle London
Medium: Stainless Steel
Installation date:
November 2007
“Ten Soaring” is located just outside the VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital, Cerritos, located on the corner of South St. and Palo Verde Ave.
The sculpture, created by artist Lyle London, is titled “Ten Soaring” and depicts ten soaring birds in flight. The piece is made of stainless steel with an oil-rubbed powder-coated bronze base, and stands approximately 10 feet, 4 inches high.
Untitled Artwork at Stacked Restaurant
Location:
Los Cerritos Center
Artist: Jordan Mozer
Media: Cast Resin with Metal Finishes
Installation date:
November 2011
This abstract piece, created by artist Jordan Mozer, adorns a wall at Stacked restaurant at the Los Cerritos Center. The piece is composed of cast resin components with metal finishes including cast magnesium, aluminum alloy, bronze and copper. The ensemble includes small and large pieces ranging in size from 18 to 33 inches in height and is arranged in a fluid horizontal pattern and lighted for night-time visibility. The art piece is meant to be a three dimensional incarnation of the colored murals decorating the walls throughout the dining area inside the restaurant.
Location:
Don Knabe Community Regional Park
Artist: Kim Emerson
Media: Expanded Polystyrene, ceramic mosaic tiles and glass pieces
Installation date:
January 2009
“Water Henge: H2O = Life” is located at Don Knabe Community Regional Park. The piece was commissioned by the City of Cerritos and Los Angeles County and was created by artist Kim Emerson. The artwork is made up of five mosaic landscape sculptures that represent a visual timeline of the presence of water, or lack of water, in the region. The pieces range in size from 9 inches high to 15 feet high. Each sculpture is carved out of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS). The forms were imbedded with a steel armature, rebar frame and coated with one-inch thick cement. Ceramic mosaic tiles accented with glass pieces surround the cement.
Each sculpture, using detailed ceramic tile mosaics, tells the story of how the Los Angeles Basin was once affected by large amounts of water over 250,000 million years ago. Sculpture One represents the ocean and the prehistoric life forms found underwater millions of years ago. This sculpture is crowned with a gold painted metal element representing a sun with a hole in the center, called the “sun catcher.”
Geologically, after the eastern mountain range pushed upward, the ocean receded and the area became marshlands where dinosaurs roamed. Sculpture Two’s mosaics depict found dinosaur bone fossils and vertebrae shapes.
As the mountains continued to rise and the sun warmed the earth, the landscape dried into flat fields that held less water but were ideal for the migration of animals and Native Americans. Sculpture Three appears to have eroded further over time, and features a mosaic of animal paw prints and human footprints.
The shape of Sculpture Four is the most eroded and appears to be melting into the earth. The piece’s mosaic includes images of fossilized plant life.
Sculpture Five is the smallest piece. It represents the minimal amount of water available today compared to the abundance of water found in the region millions of years ago. It also represents the four directions.
The entire series of sculptures in their arrangement creates a life-size sundial.
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