Finding aid for the Metro Art Department Collection of Metro Rail Public Art Photographs

Finding aid prepared by Denise Villegas, 2012; revised by Noah Geraci, 2016.

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Library and Archives

One Gateway Plaza

Mail Stop: 99-15-1

Los Angeles, CA 90012

library@metro.net

URL: http://www.metro.net/about/library/

Language of Material: English

Contributing Institution: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Library and Archives

Title: Metro Art Department collection of Metro Rail public art photographs

Identifier/Call Number: 22-DPGTL

Physical Description: 0.834 linear feet, 2 boxes

Date (inclusive): 1991-2001

Date (bulk): 1993-1996

Abstract: This collection holds photographs of public art pieces at Metro Rail Blue, Red, Purple and Green Line stations. The photographs were taken by Metro Art Department employees, primarily during the 1990s.

Physical Location: LACMTA Research Library and Archive

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact LACMTA Research Library and Archive to make an appointment.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the LACMTA Research Library and Archive. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the LACMTA Research Library and Archive as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement that may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the LACMTA Research Library and Archive collections.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Metro Art Department Collection of Metro Rail Public Art Photographs, 22-DPGTL. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Research Library and Archive.

Biographical / Historical

LACMTA's Art Department was created in 1989 under the predecessor agency, Southern California Rapid Transit District (SCRTD). Working to incorporate public art in transportation projects, the department was involved in the design of stations along the heavy and light rail transit lines, dedicating 0.05% of rail construction costs specifically to art.

Artists were selected for these projects to create public art pieces that reflected the communities to be served by the rail lines by a process of peer review. Artwork was an integral part of the design and structure of each station. Current information about the department and public art at Metro can be found at https://www.metro.net/about/art/.

Scope and Contents

163 8x10" color and black and white photographic prints and two documents related to public art at Metro rail stations. Well-known artists with work represented in the collection include Frank Romero and Gilbert "Magu" Luján (members of Chicano art collective Los Four), Robert Gil de Montes, Joyce Kozloff, East Los Streetscapers and Stephen Antonakos.

Processing Information

Processed by Denise Villegas, August 2012. Additional processing by Noah Geraci, July 2016.

Acquisition Information

The collection was transferred from the LACMTA Art Department to the archives at an unknown date.

Arrangement

Photographs were found in plastic sheets within a plastic, three-ring binder and were re-housed with original order retained. The collection is organized into three series:

Blue Line, circa 1991-1999
Red and Purple Lines, circa 1991-2000
Green Line, circa 1995

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Public art -- California -- Los Angeles County

Local transit -- California -- Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

MTA Metro Art

Los Angeles County Transportation Commission

Southern California Rapid Transit District

Series 1 Blue Line circa 1991-1999

box 1, folder 1

A-R-T Installations on the Metro Blue Line 1994 September

Scope and Contents

Color photocopied report on Blue Line public art including images and descriptions of pieces.

box 1, folder 2

7th St./Metro Center circa 1991-1993

Scope and Contents

11 8x10" prints (nine color, two black and white) of public art at 7th St./Metro Center Station. Works represented are Thomas Eatherton's Unity (1991), Roberto Gil de Montes's Heaven to Earth (1993), Joyce Kozloff's The Movies: Fantasies and Spectacles (1993). Photos by Tom Bonner and William Nettles.

box 1, folder 3

Pico circa 1993

Scope and Contents

Four 8x10" prints (two color, two black and white) of Robin Brailsford's Time and Presence (1993) at the Pico Metro Rail Station, taken by Tom Bonner.

box 1, folder 4

San Pedro circa 1993

Scope and Contents

Four 8x10" color prints of Sandra Rowe's Hope, Dreams, Path, Focus, Belief (1993) at San Pedro Blue Line Station, taken by Tom Bonner.

box 1, folder 5

Slauson circa 1995

Scope and Contents

Five 8x10" prints (four color, one black and white) of East Los Streetscapers' South Central Suite at Slauson Blue Line Station, taken by Tom Bonner.

box 1, folder 6

103rd Street circa 1994

Scope and Contents

Three 8x10" prints (one color, two black and white) of Roberto Salas's Blue Line Totems in Red (1994) at 103rd Street Blue Line Station, taken by Tom Bonner.

box 1, folder 7

Compton circa 1995

Scope and Contents

Three 8x10" prints (one color, two black and white) of Eva Cockcroft's Past Present & Future (1995) at Compton Blue Line Station, taken by Jim McHugh.

box 1, folder 8

Artesia circa 1996

Scope and Contents

Two 8x10" color prints of Lynn Aldrich's Blue Line Oasis (1996) at Artesia Blue Line Station, taken by Tom Bonner.

box 1, folder 9

Del Amo circa 1999

Scope and Contents

One 8x10" color print of Colin Gray's Del Amo Wheel (1999) at Del Amo Blue Line Station, taken by Tom Bonner.

box 1, folder 10

Wardlow circa 1992

Scope and Contents

Two 8x10" color prints of Jacqueline Dreager's Great Gathering Place (1992) at Wardlow Blue Line Station, taken by Tom Bonner.

box 1, folder 11

Pacific Coast Highway circa 1994

Scope and Contents

Three 8x10" prints (one color, two black and white) of Joe Lewis's Twelve Principles (1994) at Pacific Coast Highway Blue Line Station, taken by Jim McHugh.

box 1, folder 12

Anaheim Street circa 1994

Scope and Contents

Four 8x10" prints (three color, one black and white) of Terry Braunstein's Local Odysseys (1994) at Anaheim Street Blue Line Station, taken by Jim McHugh.

box 1, folder 13

5th Street circa 1995

Scope and Contents

Four 8x10" prints (three color, one black and white) of Jim Isermann's Failed ideals (1995) at Fifth Street Blue Line Station, taken by Jim McHugh.

box 1, folder 14

Pacific circa 1995

Scope and Contents

Three 8x10" prints (two color, one black and white) of June Edmonds' We Known Who We Are (1995) at Pacific Blue Line Station, taken by Jim McHugh.

box 1, folder 15

1st Street circa 1995

Scope and Contents

Three 8x10" prints (two color, one black and white) of Paul Taznetopoulos's Breezy and Delightful (1994) at First Street Blue Line Station, taken by Jim McHugh.

box 1, folder 16

Long Beach Transit Mall circa 1995

Scope and Contents

Three 8x10" prints (two color, one black and white) of Patrick Mohr's Angel Train (1995) at Long Beach Transit Mall Blue Line Station, taken by Jim McHugh.

Series 2 Red and Purple Lines circa 1991-2000

box 1, folder 17

Photo Print Reference List - Red Line circa 2000

Scope and Contents

Three-page typed reference list of art piece titles, artists and dates for public art at Red Line stations, including Gateway Transit Center and Union Station.

box 1, folder 18

Gateway Transit Center circa 1998

Scope and Contents

24 8x10" color prints of public art at Gateway Transit Center, including Patsaouras Plaza and MTA headquarters. Art includes works by Michael Amescua, K. Yasuda, T, Johnson, N. Korten, M. Vanderborgh, East Los Streetscapers, Roberto Gil de Montes, Elsa Flores, Peter Shire, James Doolin, Richard Wyatt, May Sun, and Bill Bell. Photographs by Tom Bonner.

box 1, folder 19

Union Station circa 1993

Scope and Contents

Eight 8x10" color prints of public art at Union Station. Works represented are Terry Schoonhoven's Traveler (1993), Cynthia Carlson's LA: City of Angeles (undated), and Christopher Sproat's Union Chairs (1993). Photographs by Tom Bonner, Mary Hamilton, and Kenna Love.

box 1, folder 20

Pershing Square circa 1991-1993

Scope and Contents

Three 8x10" color prints of Stephen Antonakos's Neons for Pershing Square (1991-1993) at Pershing Square Metro Rail Station. Photos by Mary Hamilton and Tom Bonner.

box 1, folder 21

Civic Center circa 1993

Scope and Contents

Two 8x10" color prints of Jonathan Borofsky's I Dreamed I Could Fly at Civic Center Metro Rail Station, taken by Tom Bonner.

box 1, folder 22

Westlake/MacArthur Park circa 1993

Scope and Contents

Four 8x10" prints (three color, one black and white) of Therman Statom's Into the Light (1993) and Francisco Letelier's El Sol, La Luna (1993), at Westlake/MacArthur Park Metro Rail Station. Photos by William Nettles and Mary Hamilton.

box 1, folder 23

Wilshire/Vermont circa 1996

Scope and Contents

One 8x10" color print of Peter Shire's Los Angeles Seen (1996) at Wilshire/Vermont Metro Rail Station, taken by Tom Bonner.

box 1, folder 24

Wilshire/Normandie circa 1996-2000

Scope and Contents

Seven 8x10" color prints of Frank Romero's Festival of Masks Parade (1996) and Eileen Cowin's I see what you're saying (train of thought) (2000) at Wilshire/Normandie Purple Line Station. Photos by Tom Bonner.

box 1, folder 25

Wilshire/Western circa 1996

Scope and Contents

Four 8x10" prints (three color, one black and white) of Richard Wyatt's People Coming, People Going (1996) at Wilshire/Western Purple Line Station. Photos by Tom Bonner.

box 1, folder 26

Vermont/Beverly circa 1999

Scope and Contents

Six 8x10" color prints of the 1999 work of George Stone (artist) and Anil Verma Associates Inc. (architects) at Vermont/Beverly Red Line Station. Photos by Tom Bonner.

box 1, folder 27

Vermont/Santa Monica circa 1999

Scope and Contents

Five 8x10" color prints of the 1999 work of Robert Millar (artist) and Ellerbe-Becket, Inc. (architects) at Vermont/Santa Monica Red Line Station. Photos by Tom Bonner.

box 1, folder 28

Vermont/Sunset circa 1999

Scope and Contents

One 8x10" color print of the 1999 work of Michael Davis (artist) and Diedrich/NBA (architects) at Vermont/Sunset Red Line Station. Photo by Tom Bonner.

box 1, folder 29

Hollywood/Western circa 1999

Scope and Contents

Two 8x10" color prints of the 1999 work of May Sun (artist) and Escudero-Fribourg (architects) at Hollywood/Western Red Line Station. Photo by Tom Bonner.

box 1, folder 30

Hollywood/Vine circa 1999

Scope and Contents

Six 8x10" color prints of the 1999 work of Gibert Luján (artist) and Miralles Associates, Inc. (architects) at Hollywood/Vine Red Line Station. Photos by Tom Bonner.

box 2, folder 1

Hollywood/Highland circa 2000

Scope and Contents

Three 8x10" color prints of the 2000 work of Sheila Klein (artist) and Dworsky Associates (architect) at Hollywood/Highland Red Line Station. Photos by Tom Bonner.

box 2, folder 2

Universal City circa 2000

Scope and Contents

Four 8x10" color prints of the 2000 work of Margaret Garcia (artist) and Siegel Diamond (architect) at Universal City Red Line Station. Photos by Tom Bonner.

box 2, folder 3

North Hollywood circa 2000

Scope and Contents

Two 8x10" color prints of the work of Anne Marie Karlsen and James Doolin (artists) and The Tanzmann Associates (architects) at the North Hollywood Red Line Station. Photos by Tom Bonner.

Series 3 Green Line circa 1995

box 2, folder 4

Redondo Beach circa 1995

Scope and Contents

Two 8x10" prints (one color, one black and white) of Carl Cheng's Museum for Space Information (1995) at the Marine/Redondo Green Line Station.

box 2, folder 5

Douglas circa 1995

Scope and Contents

Six 8x10" prints (four color, two black and white) of Reneé Petropoulos's Untitled (1995) at the Douglas/Rosecrans Green Line Station. Photos by Tom Bonner.

box 2, folder 6

El Segundo circa 1995

Scope and Contents

Five 8x10" prints (three color, two black and white) of Daniel Martinez's For Your Intellectual Entertainment (1995) at the El Segundo/Nash Green Line Station. Photos by Tom Bonner.

box 2, folder 7

Aviation circa 1995

Scope and Contents

Five 8x10" prints (four color, one black and white) of Richard Turner's Untitled (1995) at Aviation Green Line Station. Photo by Tom Bonner.

box 2, folder 8

Crenshaw circa 1995

Scope and Contents

Two 8x10" color prints of Crenshaw Stories (1995) by Buzz Spector (artist) and Caltrans (architects) at the Crenshaw/I-105 Green Line Station. Photos by Alex Slade.

box 2, folder 9

Harbor Freeway circa 1995

Scope and Contents

Three 8x10" color prints of Locus City Imprints (1995) by Steve Appleton (artist) and Caltrans (architects) at Harbor Freeway/I-105 Green Lstation. Photos by Tom Bonner.

box 2, folder 10

Avalon circa 1995

Scope and Contents

Three 8x10" color prints artworks at at Avalon/I-105 Green Line Station. Works represented are Pyramid (1995) by John Outterbridge (artist) and Caltrans (architects), Bridge of Culture (1995) by Stanley Wilson (artist) and Caltrans (architects), and Portrait of my People #619 (1995) by Willie Middlebrook. Photos by Tom Bonner.

box 2, folder 11

Imperial/Wilmington/Rosa Parks circa 1995

Scope and Contents

One 8x10" black and white print of Joe Sam's Hide-n-Seek (1995) at the Imperial/Wilmington Green Line Station. Photo by Tom Bonner.

box 2, folder 12

Lakewood circa 1995

Scope and Contents

One 8x10" color print of Wall of UnFame (1995) by Erika Rothenberg (artist) and Caltrans (architects) at the Lakewood/I-105 Green Line Station. Photo by Tom Bonner.

box 2, folder 13

Norwalk (I-605/I-105) circa 1995

Scope and Contents

Three 8x10" prints of Suka: Place of the Bees (1995) by Meg Cranston (artist) and Caltrans (architects) at the I-605/I-105 Green Line Station.