If you live in Los Angeles you have likely heard a lot of buzz around the master plan to restore the LA River. Allied topics like drought tolerant landscaping, water conservation, rain barrel programs, and other ecology-related issues are also being discussed widely amongst Angelenos. Water is no doubt a timely subject matter.
In June it was announced that the City of Los Angeles was awarded a $1 million art grant through Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Public Art Challenge to produce a public art initiative that would spur public water conservation efforts through the imaginative power of art. L.A. was among 230 cities throughout the U.S. to submit proposals and only four were chosen.
“Los Angeles is the creative crossroads of the world, with a dynamic and diverse arts scene,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “The Bloomberg Public Art Challenge Award will give our Department of Cultural Affairs another way to actively engage our residents and visitors while bringing new life to the LA River and the neighborhoods around it.”
Presented by the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), with the support of Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles will host its first city-wide Public Art Biennial, aptly named CURRENT:LA Water. Through this initiative the City of LA aims to create a new global paradigm of public art giving people of every social and economic class free and direct access to cultural experiences that enrich our lives.
Radix is thrilled to announce that this incredible initiative is the newest client to join our diverse roster. The arts are something that we are extremely passionate about and our roots in L.A. run deep so it is truly an honor to work alongside the DCA on this effort. This city-wide event will feature 14 site-specific public art installations staged along the LA River and throughout the city by 13 contemporary international and LA-based artists.
To hear how you can get more involved email us at currentla [at] radixcollective [dot] com and to stay current on all things CURRENT:LA Water, please help us spread the word by following us on Instagram, Twitter and Like the CURRENT:LA Biennial page on Facebook.
For up-to-the-minute updates about this initiative you can sign up for the official newsletter at www.currentla.org.