Public Art Consulting
Client: Runyon Group
Artist: Alex Prager
Location: 8888 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California
Installation Date: February, 2021
After determining an initial strategy with Runyon Group, Bianca Collins began the 8888 Washington artist selection process with a long and diverse list of internationally and nationally recognized contemporary artists. The goals from the start were clear: work with an artist who is underrepresented in the public art domain, make a significant artistic contribution to Culver City, select a work relevant to its surroundings & site-specific, and select an artist who has aesthetic integrity that can last the test of time.
Given the location of 8888 Washington on a block with heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic, Runyon was looking to implement an artwork that would surprise and catch the eye of drivers and pedestrians heading east and westbound on Washington Boulevard. The public art installation needed to be engaging and layered enough that a passerby could experience the piece from up close and from afar.
The artists were reviewed with one primary art opportunity in mind: to activate the parking garage entrance and pedestrian walkway linking the interior and exterior of the building. The goal was to find an emerging artist that was diverse and/or female, breaking through into the cultural conversation, and could implement an artwork that would create an immersive environment. Bianca and Runyon Group were passionate about honoring the diverse landscape of Los Angeles by working with artists who are underrepresented, and chose to focus the RFP solely on artists who fit this commitment.
From two initial groups totaling 48 artists, a final group of 13 were invited to participate in the RFP. The artist selected, Alex Prager, was felt to be the most impactful both culturally and visually, while truly honoring the location of the commission. Alex’s work is quintessentially LA, represents the city’s proud & diverse residents, and adds to Culver City’s growing reputation as a film and entertainment mecca through its cinematic imagery. The chosen proposal achieves a dynamic and textured environment that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.
