What Those Geometric Shapes Are on Santa Monica Boulevard

From a press release:

Shana Mabari’s ILLUMETRIC, a triptych of massive diamond-, cube-, and rectangle-shaped sculptures, is the newest resident of a well-trafficked stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood that’s home to local landmarks including Barney’s Beanery, Palihouse, Sal Guarriello Veterans’ Memorial Park, and Emser Tile.

The brightly hued work is a dynamic expression of Mabari’s interest in exploring the intersections of art, science, and technology. It is presented by the city of West Hollywood’s Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission as part of the “Art On The Outside” program, which brings art out into the public realm to enhance the city’s pedestrian-friendly culture. ILLUMETRIC’s internal LED illumination switches on nightly at sundown, adding radiance to the streetscape. The city will hold a reception for Mabari andILLUMETRIC; exact time and details and invitation to follow.

“I’ve been fortunate to closely follow Shana Mabari’s artistic development over the past few years,” says Peter Mays, executive director of Los Angeles Art Association and Gallery 825. “While Shana is always ambitious and thorough in her approach, I believe that ILLUMETRIC is an important breakthrough for an artist on a striking trajectory.”

Mabari and her body of work are part of the continuum of the Light and Space movement that originated in California in the 1960s, extending its reach into the 21st century. Legendary Southern California fabricator Jack Brogan consulted Mabari extensively on preliminary fabrication and design for ILLUMETRIC.

Constructed with acrylic panels, the work’s classic geometric forms and bold primary colors ground and engage spectators on a basic physiological level, while the artist further seeks an ethereal balance between spirituality and logic, phenomena and rationale. Interacting with the ephemeral qualities of daylight, and brightening the area at night, ILLUMETRIC emphasizes light as an intangible yet physical and communal presence at every hour.

Supported in part by a Center for Cultural Innovation ARC grant, ILLUMETRIC sits on the center median near the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and Holloway Drive. It remains on exhibit until July 2015.

PHOTO Credit: Minh Swenson