Client: Culver City

Overview

“Old Growth New/Now” is an exterior public art installation in Culver City, CA, in a parking area of a retail/office complex opposite the metro rail station. The artwork is composed of 56 pieces of low iron, point supported glass, hung on two 40’ tall wood utility pole structures. The digital printed images on the square glass panels form a Douglas Fir tree on one side and incorporate historic images from the early 1900s when electricity aided the development of the surrounding community. The glass is night illuminated by LED strips powered by solar panels.

Goals

The artwork is used to tell a story about the past, the present and the future of the area. It is intended to be a part of daily life but still find ways to surprise and delight the community. It’s large size (12’ wide), and tall height (40’) causes it to stand out. It has a juxtaposition of materials; the rough, brown, industrial look of the utility pole with the seemingly delicate, refined and colorful translucent glass of the images.

Process

Working with the size and shape of the graphic imagery, 56 pieces of 2 different sizes and configurations of low iron/heat strengthened/digitally printed pre-drilled, laminated, frameless glass with polished edges were produced. Different inner films, dichroic, 7% and 65% were used in the lamination of the glass.
Stainless steel point‐supported spider fittings are mounted to treated wood cross arms with metal cross bracing attached to the treated wood utility pole.
8 panels have dichroic film which visually activates key panels causing the glass color to change more dramatically then the standard glass. 10 panels are laminated with 7% film to highlight certain images. The remainder is laminated with a 65% film.
The use of different films reinforces the reading and character of the artwork. Quality control of the color registration and the alignment of the images across panels was critical to the success of the fabrication.