Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

KPCC Archive

Public art needed for MTA's Orange Line extension

Laura London’s artwork at the Orange Line’s Valley College Station in the San Fernando Valley.
Laura London’s artwork at the Orange Line’s Valley College Station in the San Fernando Valley.
(
metro.net
)

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

Listen 1:01
Public art needed for MTA's Orange Line extension
Public art needed for MTA's Orange Line extension

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is looking for a few good artists to enliven passengers’ waiting time.

In the last couple of decades, Metro’s hired 250 artists to create public art for stations. The agency’s latest project, the Orange Line busway extension in the San Fernando Valley, will require art for five stations.

The agency’s Maya Emsden said the art can be abstract or narrative, like Laura London’s work at the Orange Line’s Valley College Station. "It’s a wonderful piece that’s reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix and the Animals because they actually played near that area back in 1969."

March 12 is the deadline for artists to submit their qualifications. A three-person panel will select a couple of artists for each bus station and Metro will pay them to submit a design. Then the panel will pick one artist per station and give each a budget of up to about $100,000 to create the work.

Emsden said the new Orange Line art will be created in porcelain enamel, a material that’s even allowed quilt-makers to create public artworks.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today