David Wiseman, Platanus bibliotechalis, 2011

West Hollywood Public Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard

About the artwork: This artwork, located in the grand interior stairwell of the Library, reflects the relationship between the New West Hollywood Library and West Hollywood Park. Clad in cast porcelain sycamore bark, tree trunks emerge from the walls, as plastered steel and bronze branches continue their ascent toward the skylight and sprout copper, brass, and steel leaves as well as porcelain seed pods. The site specific installation engages with the large air space above the stairway, providing a link between the park that surrounds it and the library itself. This project is inspired by the ancient indigenous sycamores of the region, whose ghostly branches emerge through the walls and grow sixty feet into the volume of the space, welcoming people to the library collection as they reach toward the light above.

About the Artist: In his studio practice, David Wiseman draws upon traditions of time-honored craftsmanship and experimentation of contemporary design methods to create poetic and sculptural work spanning the spectrum of fine and decorative arts. Wiseman has made site-specific installations for public institutions, international brands, private collections and his crystal was recently acquired by the Corning Museum of Glass' permanent collection, Corning, NY. Wiseman, a 2003 graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), lives and works in Los Angeles.

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For questions, contact Marcus Mitchell, Public Art Administrator at (323) 848-3122 or mmitchell@weho.org. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, please call, TTY: (323) 848-6496. To learn more information about the City of West Hollywood and its arts programs visit www.weho.org/arts.