The Las Vegas CityCenter, an 18-million-square foot hotel, residential, shopping, entertainment and dining complex has changed the face of the city’s famed Strip and calls attention to recent growth of Las Vegas – after the recent economic downturn plagued tourism and the city as a whole.

CityCenter’s design and construction, which commanded the help of (and thus provided work for) about 10,000 people, has created a positive economic ripple in several parts of the U.S. - as local and national businesses across the country were called in for various needs. After its completion, the mega-building has spurred an additional 12,000 new jobs (complete with benefits and health insurance).

Also significant, CityCenter is helping to redefine the look and feel of Las Vegas. As the city seeks to form its own identity (moving away from past hotel designers’ replications of buildings, wonders and themes from around the world), CityCenter provides a sense of community and individuality.

The president and CEO of CityCenter, Bobby Baldwin recently remarked,

"CityCenter bridges the vitality of Las Vegas with the experiences travellers seek when they visit great cities around the world . . . spectacular architecture, culturally significant art, great public spaces, sophisticated hotels, unique restaurants and incredible amenities. It is an evolutionary destination that aims to transform Las Vegas as a new symbol at its core."

He wasn’t kidding. About $40 million alone was spent on the public art featured around CityCenter. The development is now home to one of America’s largest public art collections, which is free and accessible 24 hours a day.

Matching with the size of the colossal CityCenter, most of the art works on display are large pieces of sculpture (like an installation piece created of 200 canoes and boats and a quirky sculpture of a giant typewriter eraser).

Fine art advisor Michele Quinn discusses the art selection, stating that CityCenter officials want to make sure the displayed art is engaging to visitors and tourists. The art collection includes pieces from around the world (with the thought that this would lure a greater number of international visitors).

Click here to read more about CityCenter’s public art – and the development in general (including its sustainable highlights, more about how the CityCenter has positively affected Las Vegas and the entire country and specific stats pertaining to the massive structure).

In 2007, the D. C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the city’s Public Works Department and Midnight Forum (a community – based youth development arts program) initiated – and have since guided - MuralsDC, a publicly funded program designed to transform children’s destructive energy into positive outcomes throughout our nation’s capital.

Since then, the program has effectively helped youngsters express their creativity and stay out of trouble. Beyond these welcomed results, MuralsDC has also provided some 20 vibrant and boldly colored murals throughout the city.

The unique program gives artists the opportunity to partner with local youth groups and collaborate with residents and businesses in coming up with (non-political or commercial) ideas for the stimulating murals. Student apprentices assist in researching the area and preparing the site where the mural will be painted. Next, artists teach the youth-participants about painting technique and assist in creating the graffiti.

The students who take part in MuralsDC have benefited from the program. Many have had previous run-ins with the law (often related to illegal graffiti art). Now, they have a positive and legal way to express creativity and artistic talent – and stay out of trouble.

To read more about this story and the locations of the murals around Washington D.C., click here. 

Above images via flickr.com

If you happen to be in Pasadena and are driving past the area where South St. John and South Pasadena Avenues divide, you will come to a large fork in the road. While you won't need to make the decision of which direction to go,  you probably will wonder why there is literally a gigantic silver fork in the middle of the road.

The staggering silver fork, made from wood and containing a black steel skeleton, is rooted in the traffic median's 2 1/2 feet of concrete. Ken Marshall created the fork as a 75th birthday surprise for his friend, Bob Stane. Stane is the owner of the Coffee Gallery Backstage, a coffeehouse and showroom in Altadena. He was extremely excited and truly surprised by the colossal birthday gift.

An recent LA Times Article states,
 
The fork was finished about 9:50 a.m. on Halloween after friends worked to erect it clad in fake Caltrans uniforms and hard hats. Friends surprised Stane 10 minutes later with the utensil and chocolate cake. "We had a large-fork-in-the-road party," Marshall said. Stane said the fork was absolutely shocking. "I was basically screaming, 'Oh my God, he did it! He did it!...” Stane first playfully suggested that the location might be appropriate for a fork monument about 10 years ago in conversation with Marshall. The idea's been brewing ever since.

While the artwork’s unknown origin initially shocked motorists and residents, most people seem to enjoy the 18-foot fork. The city of Pasadena and Caltrans, who owns the median, are seriously considering keeping the artwork up as an impromptu piece of street art.

The article continues,

The city completed a safety inspection on the fork this week and is waiting for results, said Stephanie DeWolfe, deputy director of Planning and Development… If the fork is safe and secure, the city is going to attempt to negotiate a deal with Marshall to keep it as temporary public art, as long as Marshall agrees to absorb the cost of removing the piece when it comes time, DeWolfe said.

Image from RISD
 

The kaleidoscope is constructed with six dichroic acrylic cones placed inside the tower, one facing each window pane. There is a mirror at the bottom of each cone, and a light that helps with the reflection. The dichroic cones produce different hues when viewed from various angles.

The final lighting is still in the works and could be operational by the end of the month, Dickerson said. The beacon has been approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, which governs lighting on bridges over navigable waters. It will revolve, much like the light in a lighthouse. But it won't be so bright that it will alarm or distract drivers, Dickerson said.

Click here to read the full article.