Fine Arts Commission Agrees to Additional Text for Veterans Memorial

After members of the Cerritos Fine Arts and Historical Commission viewed two mock-up photos of added text to the Veterans Memorial submitted by city staff, the commissioners voted, 5-0, in favor of sending the resolution to the City Council for final approval.

At the Commission’s prior meeting, commissioners passed a resolution asking city staff to review the proposed changes. Assistant City Manager Kathleen Jung Matsumoto displayed two photos during a slide presentation, which contained two different font sizes attached to two of the five podiums at the Memorial.

The proposed text was located on each podium’s granite post. The Commission agreed on the text, and the font size was the only issue that was debated.

Commissioner Elayne Shiohama raised a question that was brought up during the prior meeting: could the text be placed in another location, in the interest of conserving space?

James T. Russell, the artist who designed the Memorial, was in attendance and said he didn’t agree with placing the text elsewhere. Instead, he agreed with the proposed text, but said that it needed to be shrunk.

Commissioner Julietta Williams liked the mock-up because she said it answered the five W’s: who, what, where, why and when.

The issue of adding additional text to the Cerritos Veterans Memorial arose during the prior Commission meeting after the city received news that a former resident had been killed in action last year.

Former Cerritos resident Lieutenant Colonel Mario Carazo, a member of the Naval Academy, was killed July 22, 2010 while flying a combat mission over Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Commission recommends lighted sculpture artist to City Council

In an effort to acquire a lighted sculpture to complement Cerritos’ existing public art collection, the Arts and Historical Commission initially decided that a local artist was up to the task.

However, the City Council in agreement with city staff, asked the Commission to undertake a complete feasibility study of the artist’s artwork, and to reconsider several artists who could potentially be commissioned to design a lighted sculpture.

After reconsideration, the Commission voted unanimously, 5-0, to recommend Cliff Garten, an artist based in Venice, Calif. to the Council.

Commissioner Janet Beach researched Garten’s background and work, which resulted in a slide presentation of his art throughout the U.S., including his Harbor View piece located on Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach.

Williams said during the meeting that she visited Garten’s studio in Venice and traveled to North Hollywood to see his Sentient Beings sculpture, comprised of stainless steel and LED colored lights.

Another reason why the Commission leaned toward Garten had to do with finances. Commissioner Shiohama said the Commission directed its energies toward local artists to “cut down on costs.”

The recommendation will be presented to the City Council for consideration at its Thursday, March 10 meeting.

The next Fine Arts and Historical Commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 17 at 7 p.m. Please check www.cerritos.us for updates on the upcoming agenda.