City's Newest Public Art Crowns Bus Shelter

's latest work is a metal sculpture garden that adorns a bus shelter on Main Street/Great Mall in front of the Centria condominiums.

Litman's design was chosen among other artist entries submitted to the city of Milpitas. He said he came up with the idea of an interpretive garden, because the area needed a "spot of color to complement the landscape and the building."

"When you look at the shelter, it's in front of the condominium building," he said. "On the opposite side is a big light rail structure, which is not very pretty. It's a big concrete structure.

"I thought there is not enough vegetation, so I should create more through my artwork," he said.

Birds of Paradise cost the city about $7,000, Litman said. The sculpture is 12 to 13 feet long and 3 feet deep. It weighs about 200 pounds. In addition, he designed the steel sculpture so it's not one big welded piece. Leaves and flowers were attached with screws on top of the frame. The components can be taken apart in the future and relocated or stored.  

As for graffiti, Litman said he hopes the sculpture will be overlooked by taggers, because it is not a flat surface. But just in case, he has applied a coating that would make it easier to take off spray paint.

Litman's other public art pieces for the city are located inside the senior center. The  mural was completed in March 2010. The Four Seasons are panels that can be found along the wall of the senior center and Garden Fantasy adorns the fireplace.