Here Now There Then: Phase II of an Art Project for Culver City's West End

The City of Culver City announces the installation of Phase II of Here Now There Then, a commissioned public art project by Kyungmi Shin, comprised of more than 180 individually designed banners for display on the light poles along the 2.5 mile stretch of Washington Boulevard (between Sepulveda Boulevard and Walnut Avenue). The project was completed in two phases: The first phase was installed March 2007 and consisted of 96 unique banners; the second phase of the project was installed March 2008 and includes 87 banners. The project is conceived of as a temporary art installation in an area of the City currently undergoing revitalization.

With their bold graphic images, the banners are designed to brighten the urban landscape and provide a unifying visual experience to drivers and pedestrians through pictorial representations of subject matter unique to Culver City. Artist Kyungmi Shin states in her original project proposal, “I wanted to create a project where the continuum from past to present is brought to light and the everyday routine is refreshingly broken by poetic reminders to pause and observe the environment we live in, look at the sky and clouds, and appreciate being and living.” The background colors of the banners are inspired by the colors of the Lantana flower, Culver City’s official flower, but are also intended to reference the diverse population residing in Culver City and in the project area. Ms. Shin created seven color-coded categories for the banners:

• Gabrielino History (persimmon)
• Entertainment History (pink)
• Ranchero History (orange)
• Poetry (lavender)
• Business History (mustard)
• Natural History (green)
• City History (burgundy)

The artist and her assistant, Gabrielle Azucena, researched each of the subject areas and worked closely with City Historian, Julie Lugo Cerra. Several banners serve to mark the City’s western most entry point at Washington Boulevard and Walnut Avenue.

Ms. Shin was selected from 44 artists or artist teams through a multi-phase review process and awarded the project in October 2006. Ms. Shin holds MFA degrees in sculpture and painting from the University of California, Berkeley, San Francisco Art Institute, and San Francisco State University. She has been the recipient of many prestigious art grants and has exhibited internationally. In addition to HERE NOW THERE THEN, Ms. Shin has recently completed temporary art installations at LAX Airport and at the 7+FIG ART SPACE entitled, Many Waters.

Click on a banner to see all the banners for that theme.