Monrovia Unveils New Public Art Projects
By Terry Miller
Published: Friday, June 25th, 2010
Monrovia Unveils New Public Art Projects
By Terry Miller
You may have noticed the newly erected, inviting archway that welcomes one to old town Monrovia. Perhaps you’ve seen the Red Car depiction at Paragon. It is all part of a plan that’s working in major cities across the US and spearheaded locally by one of Monrovia’s councilmen.
At the core of the community’s public art strategy is the Art in Public Places Ordinance that was adopted in 2004 at the urging of Council Member Joe Garcia.
The Ordinance established the mechanisms for the funding, acquisition, and maintenance of new public art in various public locations in Monrovia.
Last Wednesday, a small reception was held at the sites of the newest public arts projects to introducing community members and city officials to the artists responsible for the projects.
Council members Joe Garcia and Tom Adams were among those present to explain the concept and importance of art in public places.
Funding comes both from donations and new construction, with the ordinance requiring that both residential and commercial developers, whose projects are valued at $1 million or more, pay to the city 1% of each project’s cost in support of public art – or donate art of a similar value. For example, a $1 million development nets $10,000 toward Monrovia’s public art fund.
Paragon owners the Urban Housing Group contributed over $225,000 to meet their Public Art contribution.
The program is administered by an Art in Public Places Committee made up of Planning, Historic Preservation and Community Services Commissioners, along with a City Council Member and a member of the public at large. The Committee considers the works to be funded and recommends them to the City Council.
The new Old Town Gateway Arch, and “The Stop” by artist Walter Redondo – a tribute to the Red Car terminal that once occupied the site – were both funded by $225,000 from the now open Paragon apartment development on Myrtle Avenue, between Olive and Walnut Avenues, as was the complex’s wrought iron entrance gate.
Other projects include the restored Bear Mural from Monrovia’s old post office now displayed above the Heritage Room at Monrovia’s new Public Library, the iris-painted utility box near the corner of Myrtle and Colorado in Old Town and a second box at Myrtle and Lemon Avenues painted with lemons and a glass mosaic created by youths in Monrovia’s Encompass program, now on display in the Monrovia Community Center, 119 W. Palm Avenue.
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