Two Running Violet V Forms

Two Running Violet V Forms (photo by Steven Chavez)

Artist Robert Irwin's Two Running Violet V Forms were installed in 1983 on the campus of the University of California San Diego. They are in a eucalyptus grove with several walking paths that connect different areas of the university. The artwork is Irwin's first permanent installation in California and is part of the Stuart Collection, which includes works by several artists that are placed throughout the UC San Diego campus.    

Initially the artwork can be ambiguous. The violet panels appear as geometrical man-made forms placed in contrast to a naturally occurring landscape. This is conveyed by the visual contrasts between the synthetic materials of the panels, and the natural unevenness seen in the trunks, branches and leaves of the trees. However, the eucalyptus trees are not native to the region and were planted like the panels in a geometrical grid pattern. The artwork ultimately aids in revealing that both the panels and the trees are results of man-made environmental interventions.

Light also plays a role in the artwork. The panels are flecked when the sun is filtered through the eucalyptus leaves, and appear transparent when unfiltered perpendicular light reaches them. On cloudy days, the panels gain density and are a concentrated blue-violet.

Flecked with Light (photo by Steven Chavez)

Nearly Transparent (photo by Steven Chavez)

Saturated in Color (photo by Steven Chavez)

The two running forms are inserted into the grove in V-shapes and are carried by twenty five feet tall stainless steel posts. The screens are made of blue-violet plastic coated tight gauged chain link fencing. They are placed at a constant elevation, which differentiates the gently sloping terrain beneath them. Magenta flowering iceplant is planted linearly along the dripline of the panels.

V-Formed Panels (photo by Steven Chavez)

The artwork is viewed by path users that cross the grove to reach their campus destinations. The panels are never obstructions for walkers as they are placed high above the ground. Their occurrence provides a continually shifting display of visual interest that ranges from their near disappearance to their robust stripes of running color.

Pacoima Neighborhood City Hall

Pacoima Neighborhood City Hall (photo by Steven Chavez)

Pacoima is a neighborhood of Los Angeles that has recently built and opened a new city hall -- the Pacoima Neighborhood City Hall. The building is located on Van Nuys Boulevard between Laurel Canyon Boulevard and San Fernando Road. It is across the street from the Pacoima Branch Library and is located in the heart of the community's business district, which includes service shops and restaurants.

The building was designed by RoTo Architects of Los Angeles, with landscape architectural services provided by Mia Lehrer + Associates, also a local firm. RoTo Architects designed the building as two freestanding structures linked by a sky bridge that runs above an open breezeway. The breezeway works as a portal that connects Van Nuys Boulevard to the inner landscape of the site. The landscape is partially built over an underground parking structure and provides flexible open space, as well as zones that encourage a variety of activities.

Elements in the landscape include a covered patio, a lawn, and outdoor theater seating with a screen for watching movies at night. A mural of Pacoima residents, including singer Richie Valens and football player Charles White, is also an element of the landscape.

Covered Patio (photo by Steven Chavez)

Lawn Area (photo by Steven Chavez)

Seating for Outdoor Theater (photo by Steven Chavez)

Outdoor Movie Screen (photo by Steven Chavez)

Mural of Pacoima Residents (photo by Steven Chavez)

A curtain wall of glass with an angular planting bed of drought tolerant plants faces the sidewalk along Van Nuys Boulevard.

Looking East on Van Nuys Boulevard (photo by Steven Chavez)