Functional Public Art Enhancements
Public Art Projects
The designed public art improvements to the Ventura Community Park include: Butterfly Cluster, Sunshades, and Trellis Lighting.
Sunshades
Sunshades feature four sun and weather shelters approximately 19’ in diameter. Each shelter will be a different color; selected colors are blue, red, yellow, and green.
Butterfly Cluster
Trellis Lights
Trellis Lights consist of an integrated lighting system to be placed at the top of four capitals that support a trellis sited near a main entrance to the park. A sculptural lighting element, Trellis Lights will enhance the public’s sense of arrival into this major community center.
Anita Margrill
Butterfly
Cluster, Trellis Lights, Sunshades, 2005
Painted steel, fiber optic lighting
Location: Ventura Community Park
About the Art:
Ventura’s distinctive environmental connection to the unique
habitat and migration of the Monarch Butterfly inspired Anita Margrill
to create Butterfly Cluster and Sunshades. Butterfly Cluster is a sculptural
lighting element consisting of LED lit butterflies mounted on 6’
to 8’ poles that subtly oscillate in the wind. Together this kinetic
cluster of painted steel butterflies and 19’ diameter sun shelters
form the “Butterfly Oasis,” which can be found in the Park’s
aquatic center. The artist’s butterfly motif was inspired by the
unusual migration habits of the monarch butterfly, which travels an astonishing
2,000 miles each fall to return to the coastal eucalyptus groves of Central
California, including the Harmon Barranca bordering the park. The artwork
honors Ventura’s connection to this remarkable habitat. Also found
in the park is Margrill’s third decorative element, Trellis Lights,
which features a striking architecturally integrated lighting system.
Positioned at the top of the four capitals that support the trellis structure
near the entrance of the park, Trellis Lights greatly enhance the gateway
to one of Ventura’s most important community recreation sites.
About the Artist:
Award-winning California artist Anita Margrill
has developed public art projects for over twenty-five years often with
a focus on cultural, technological, and environmental issues. She attempts
to create imaginative pieces that harness natural energy, mirroring what
she calls “the choreography of change, celebrating the resources
of sunlight, wind and water.” Among extensive public works projects
by this licensed architect are an interpretive walkway (Pacifica, CA),
a wind pavilion (Steilacoom, WA), kinetic and water sculptures (Manhattan
Beach, Brooklyn, and Antioch CA), as well as playgrounds in New York City.
A designer of passive solar houses, she also holds numerous patents and
copyrights for water distribution systems.
Born in New York City, Anita Margrill attended Cranbrook Academy of Art
and holds a bachelor of art from Bennington Collage, a bachelor of architecture
from CUNY School of Architecture and Environmental Studies, and a master
of art in interdisciplinary arts from San Francisco State University.
The recipient of numerous national grants, she is also a frequent teacher
and artist-in-residence. Her artwork has been included in many group and
solo exhibitions in California and New York.
Overview: Community Park Project
The Public Art Commission approved the artist selection panel’s choice of Anita Margrill to develop public art enhancements as part of the capital improvements identified for the Ventura Community Park in June 2001. The panel was comprised of Public Art Commissioner Scott Boydstun, Parks & Recreation Commissioner Ed Wehan, and City of Culver City Public Art Management Analyst Vida Brown. The criteria used by the panel include: the artist’s professional qualifications; proven ability to undertake projects of a similar scope; artistic merit as evidenced by the submitted materials; and demonstrated ability to work with government agencies, engineers, design professionals, and the community in the creation of an art project.Anita Margrill subsequently received a $20,000 design contract to collaborate with the Ventura Community Park design team and developed three public art elements, Butterfly Cluster, Sunshades, and Trellis Lighting, to be integrated into the park site. In June 2002, the Public Art Commission approved Anita Margrill’s final design of the three art works. During the construction phase, she will serve as the artistic coordinator, overseeing the fabrication and installation of the art elements.
Award-winning California artist Anita Margrill has created public art projects for over 25 years. Ms. Margrill’s past projects have focused on cultural, technological and environmental issues and have been design collaborations with architects, landscape architects, engineers, educators, other artists, and the public. She has served on the design team for numerous projects including the new Dallas Police Headquarters, San Francisco’s MUNI Third Street Light Rail, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority light rail stations, and Exploration Place, a discovery museum in Wichita, KA. Ms. Margrill attended Cranbrook Academy of Art, received her bachelor of art from Bennington Collage, her bachelor of architecture from CUNY School of Architecture and Environmental Studies, and her master of art in Interdisciplinary Arts from San Francisco State University. A licensed architect, she has designed and built numerous private and public projects and holds copyrights and patents.
The Community Park public art project has been presented at numerous public meetings and as part of the Community Park community outreach efforts. Anita Margrill presented her work at a public meeting for input in April 2002. Additionally, the project has been presented at meetings of the Public Art Commission meetings and Parks and Recreation Commission.