CultureNOW | A Celebration of Culture & Community

Renowned artist Alice Aycock discusses Whirls & Twirls on a Vortex of Water - her sculpture of metal, steel, concrete and acrylic that hovers above water in an elliptical-shaped pool. This artwork is designed to generate a realm of wonder and curiosity; to be theatrical, poetic, delightful and magical. Integrating science, art and technology, its conception refers to the tumultuous weather patterns in South Florida. The artist describes the challenges of creating sculptures that appeal to the eyes of passers-by.

The sculptor, Tony Rosenthal, discusses the idea behind his popular rotatable sculpture, Alamo, located in Astor Place at E 8th Street. The Alamo, a 15-foot tall cube, is more commonly referred to as the "Astor Place Cube." It was installed as part of Doris C. Freedman's "Sculpture in Environment" project, and was the first permanent contemporary outdoor art sculpture installed in New York City. According to scholars Edward Ablee and Sam Hunter, employing the outdoor cube established Rosenthal as a "master of monumental public sculpture." The cube is poised on its tip, and can be physically rotated by passers-by.

Architect Shauna Gillies-Smith discusses the process of designing the landscape surrounding the Massachusetts College of Art and Design Residence Hall. Students at MassArt led the design process, collaborating to create a landscape that sought to exemplify the values of their school.

Architect Shauna Gillies-Smith discusses the materials and constructions of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design Residence Hall, and the landscape that surrounds it.

César Pelli talks about one of his first projects, the Worldway Postal Center, a mail transfer center near Los Angeles International Airport, which he worked on in 1966. The Worldway Postal Center won an Honor Award from the Southern California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1969. 

César Pelli talks about one of his earliest works, a public housing project in Hawaii. Kukui Gardens has long provided affordable housing in Honolulu, one of the most expensive housing markets in the nation.

César Pelli talks about the Laboratories Building he designed in 1967 for COMSAT, a satellite manufacturing company, in Clarksburg, Maryland.

César Pelli talks about the design for San Bernardino's City Hall, completed in 1969. The City Hall has been named as one of the nation’s outstanding city halls by the American Institute of Architects and Library of Congress, and was the recipient of an honor award for design excellence by the American Institute of Architects.

César Pelli talks about the design of the United States Embassy in Tokyo, Japan. He describes how reinforced concrete was made to look paper-thin in its application. This project, completed in 1976, is composed of a long, 12-story office tower and a parallel three-story office wing separated by a central court containing an auditorium, terraces and gardens.

César Pelli describes his work on the Fox Hills Mall Shopping Center, which he was involved with during his time at Gruen Associates. Situated on a 50-acre site, the Mall was originally anchored by three department stores, more than 132 specialty shops and a four-level, car-parking with direct access. Notable elements of its original design were a glass-and-steel "theme" staircase in the center of the mall, as well as angled bridges which connected multiple levels. The project received a Los Angeles Chapter AIA Citation for Design Excellence.