Art Selections for the Pasadena Center

The City of Pasadena Public Art Program for City Construction Projects announces the selection of artists for the Pasadena Convention Center. Currently under renovation, the Pasadena Center is located in downtown and is comprised of the historic Civic Auditorium (built in 1927) and two flanking new and renovated buildings that will contain meeting rooms and a ballroom. The Center serves as the southern terminus of the Civic Center axis, a classic Beaux Arts plan implemented in the 1920s. Situated on Green Street in downtown Pasadena, the Civic Auditorium is one of several original buildings constructed as part of a grand civic design that includes iconic Pasadena City Hall and the Public Library. These buildings are civic and national treasures listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Five artists have been selected to create original artworks specifically for the Pasadena Center as a part of the City’s Percent for Art Program for City projects. Three artists are working on projects for the exterior locations that include a large ceremonial and gathering space on Green Street and landscaped pathways and small plazas between the buildings that facilitate pedestrian circulation:

Jim Isermann
Hans Peter Kuhn
Dennis Oppenheim

The two artists selected to work on interior spaces within the two meeting room buildings are:

Man One
Alexis Smith.

A national call-for-entries resulted in 403 submittals, from which the three exterior artist commissions were selected by a Selection Panel. A second Selection Panel composed of local arts professionals and civic figures invited artists to submit for interior commissions. All five artists are currently developing concepts for their artwork. These concepts will be reviewed for approval by the Arts and Culture Commission no later than winter 2008. City Council will approve all final submissions. Completion of artwork is set for early spring 2009.

Many thanks to the Advisory Committee, all Selection panelists and all responding artists. We are very pleased and excited about the final selections and look forward to sharing their final concepts with you then.

Page Last Updated 11/16/2007