Bold New MLK Hospital, Bold New Public Art

"Pieces Together" by Lawrence Argent
MLK Hospital main entrance

Two recent sculptures at the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Hospital pay tribute to themes of diversity and unity reflected by the surrounding Willowbrook neighbor-hood.  The hospital's public art centerpiece is Lawrence Argent's 20-foot high 110-ton granite puzzle piece at the main entrance, inspired by the idea that "each part of the whole is integral, as in a jigsaw puzzle."

"Pieces Together"   shows facial images from the Willowbrook community, with a swirling spiral on the reverse as "a single breath that unites all voices into one."  These themes emerged from Argent's community outreach that utilized three-dimensional data scans of his interview participants' lips.
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[more about Lawrence Argent's approach and vision]

"A Healing Home" by Dominique Moody

Outpatient Center Lobby

In contrast, Dominique Moody's sculptural
collage inside the new Outpatient Center is
more understated.  Yet the intimate charm
of each collage's framed "visual narrative"
of persons and places draws in viewers to
this showcase of tangible and compelling
community diversity.

For  "A Healing Home"  
Moody assembled nine separately titled
collages using reclaimed redwood, found

 Photo Image of 
Martin  Luther King, Jr. 

objects and materials, and archival
photographs printed on glass.
[more about Dominique Moody's approach and vision]

Other public art at and around MLK Hospital:

Martin Luther King, Jr. (photographic image)
10-foot by 6-foot transparent photographic glass panel
          Location: exterior entrance, Outpatient Center,
          1670 E. 120th Street, Willowbrook, Los Angeles

"Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dr. Charles R. Drew"

30-foot by 10-foot bas relief sculpture

          Public Art "Rev. King, Jr. and Dr. Drew"  
          southwest building façade, King Drew Magnet High School,
          1601 E. 120th Street, Willowbrook, Los Angeles

"Hide-n-Seek" by JoeSam

station art:  column-mounted painted metal cut-out figures
          Public Art "Hide-n-Seek"  
          mounted on freeway support pillars,
          11611 Willowbrook Ave., Los Angeles

"Pathways to Freedom" by Michael Massenburg and Rachel Strayhorn

station art:  5 concrete and ceramic tile benches
          Public Art "Pathways to Freedom"  

"Rev. King, Jr. and Dr. Drew"
King Drew Magnet
High School

          11611 Willowbrook Ave., Los Angeles

"Hide-n-Seek" by JoeSam

"Pathways to Freedom" by
Massenburg and Strayhorn

Special Olympics LA2015 - Murals Welcome Athletes

Los Angeles Welcomes the Special Olympics and pays tribute to its athletes and supporters with three recently completed public murals by renown local artists David Flores, Cryptik and Kent Twitchell.  

"World Stage Legacy" (2015) by David Flores

The Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles (LA2015) will be the largest sports and humanitarian event in the world this year, running from July 25 to Aug. 2, 2015. Flores' recently completed "World Stage Legacy" is at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum where the opening ceremony will be held on July 25, 2015.  Cryptik's "The Greatest" and Kent Twitchell's "Monument to the Special Olympics" are near the L.A. Convention Center.

With President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as Honorary Chairs of the Games, accompanied by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and California Governor Jerry Brown serving as Honorary Hosts, we hope these mural tributes speak LARGE our L.A. enthusiasm for the Special Olympics.

"The Greatest" (2015) by Cryptik

"Monument to the Special Olympics"
(2015) by Kent Twitchell

At the Coliseum:

“World Stage Legacy” by David Flores
80-foot long mural of Coliseum athletes and performers and Special Olympics figures
Coliseum building west exterior facing Bill Robertson Lane
[on Google Maps]

Near the Convention Center and Staples Center:

“The Greatest” by Cryptik
35-foot portrait of Muhammad Ali with 8 plaques bearing inspirational quotes from Special Olympics athletes and famous persons (Kofi Annan, Eric Chan, Laura Cook, Michelle Core, Nilasha Kurukulasuriya, Marco Martinez, Apolo Ohno, and Dustin Plunkett).
1248 S. Figueroa St., Historic Core, Downtown Los Angeles

"Monument to the Special Olympics" by Kent Twitchell
Double portrait of Special Olympics Ambassadors Rafer Johnson and Loretta Clairborne
1147 S. Hope Street, Historic Core, Downtown Los Angeles
[on Google Maps]

For the rest of L.A.'s public art...
>>> PUBLIC ART IN PUBLIC PLACES:  Public Art in Los Angeles, Southern California and Hawaii