For upcoming Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur celebrations in Southern California, we suggest visiting L.A.'s most notable public artworks by renowned Jewish sculptor and artist Joseph L. Young (1919-2007). Young's many private commissions of stained glass windows and mosaics for temples, churches, schools and libraries are still widely admired throughout the country. Two large public works in Los Angeles, however, are worth special attention: his last and most famous, the
Los Angeles Holocaust Monument, and his most controversial,
"Triforium" in downtown Los Angeles.
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60-foot by 20-foot 60-ton
concrete poly-phonoptic
kinetic tower sculpture
with lighted Venetian
glass prisms; lighting
display and a carillon
musical program;
reflecting pool
(removed) |
Young described
"Triforium" (1975) as a "poly-phonoptic kinetic tower," which he designed with automated light, sound and a reflecting pool. The 60-foot tower sculpture became controversial when seismic and design concerns dramatically increased its cost (Los Angeles Times, 8/26/2007). Although the sculpture had early mechanical problems, the City restored its sound and light features in 2007 (minus the reflecting pool) and it remains a lively and iconic presence across from City Hall in Fletcher Bowron Square.
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six 18-foot triangular
black granite columns
mounted with bas relief
panels and inscriptions;
red granite base |
In startling contrast, Young's
Los Angeles Holocaust Monument (1992) at Pan Pacific Park anchors the exterior grounds around the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust with its massive symbolism. The six 18-foot black granite columns are graced with bas relief panels and inscriptions.
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"Triforium" (1975) by Joseph L. Young
Los Angeles Holocaust Monument
Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust
References:
Noland, Claire, Times Staff Writer. "Joseph Young, 87; his murals, sculptures adorn the Southland" August 26, 2007. Accessed 9/10/2015 http://articles.latimes.com/2007/aug/26/local/me-young26
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