Montana Avenue Illuminated by Art and Light Installation
April 5, 2022 9:28 AM
Last week, the City of Santa Monica unveiled an art and light installation spanning ten blocks of the Montana Avenue business district. The installation aims to support the economic recovery of the area amidst ongoing challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and can be viewed through September 2022.
Each block features a Ficus tree that has been transformed into a unique, illuminated work of art with themes that range from whimsical butterflies and flowers to hanging lanterns, chandeliers, and colored panes. This installation is a partnership between the City’s Art of Recovery initiative and the Montana Avenue Merchants Association.
“As businesses fully reopen and welcome residents, shoppers and visitors back to Montana Avenue, we envision this public art project to be a focal point that draws people in,” said Montana Avenue Merchants Association Chair Kara Taub. “We hope the installation encourages people to walk and explore new businesses that have recently opened or rediscover long-standing neighborhood favorites.”
“Art of Recovery is thrilled to collaborate with the Montana Avenue Merchants Association as a production partner to bring a creative project of this scale to the district,” said the City of Santa Monica’s Cultural Affairs Manager, Shannon Daut. “By working together, we build capacity and sustainability among local groups to produce impactful art projects. This installation is a great example of what these collaborations can accomplish to provide more community access to artistic experiences.”
This project is funded in part through the City of Santa Monica’s Art of Recovery initiative, which has funded over 100 artists and 24 projects to transform some of the City’s public spaces into vibrant works of art. One of the initiative's goals is to support nearby local businesses by enhancing the spaces outside and to further build a supportive ecosystem for artists and projects, offering learning, networking, and opportunities for artists to work across sectors. For more information on Art of Recovery and to submit a project concept visit Santamonica.gov/Arts.
The Montana Avenue Merchants Association is one of six organizations working with the initiative’s new production partner model which enables the expansion of arts experiences throughout the City. For more information on Montana Avenue Merchants Association and the tree installations visit: MontanaAve.com.
Media Contact
Miranda Iglesias
Public Information Coordinator
Miranda.Iglesias@SMGOV.NET
Categories
Arts, Culture & Fun, Strategic Priorities, The Arts