Three fluid bronze, biomorphic sculptures from Herb Alpert’s “Black Totems” series will be installed in the east median on Olympic Boulevard at 26th Street this week.
The sculptures are on loan from Alpert for one year.
Located adjacent to Bergamot Station Art Center and the future home of the Expo Line light rail station, the sculptures will enliven Olympic Boulevard and extend Bergamot’s artistic presence onto the busy thoroughfare.
Alpert is a world renowned musician, composer, artist and philanthropist, whose foundation, located in Santa Monica, supports emerging artists in all mediums through the annual Alpert Award in the Arts, as well as creative development opportunities for young people, including a number of arts education initiatives.
During the City’s Bergamot Area public planning process, the community expressed a desire to call attention to the art activities at Bergamot Station during the Expo Line construction.
This installation, aside from its notable aesthetic contribution to the neighborhood, helps to address that issue.
The Santa Monica Arts Commission approved the installation as a pilot project with the hope of initiating a future series of temporary installations in the Olympic median.
