Public Art in Whittier -Emily Brown

Phase 1- 

The Garden Gate (2004)- The Garden Gate celebrates the accomplishments of the women of Whittier past, present and future." "Women of Whittier" composed by sculptor Guy A. Wilson can be described as a 3 piece cast bronze sculptural tribute to Whittier's women, consisting of a pair of cast bronze double-sided high relief gate sculptures flanking a life-size sculpture of a small girl.

How did you choose your site? Briefly discuss your history within the site and what made you choose the site.

Growing up I had always seen this artwork while living as a resident in the city of Whittier. As I grew older and attended junior college at Rio Hondo I would drive past this artwork on a daily basis and was always curious as to what it was.  

This sculpture installation was dedicated on October 9, 2004 and contains extensive inscriptions on the reverse sides of the two gate panels: 

One of Whittier’s earliest settlers recognized the potential of this garden setting. Harriet Williams Russell Strong, with her husband Charles, purchased 220 acres from Pio Pico, California’s last Mexican Governor.  The Strong Ranch, known as Rancho Del Fuerte thrived with the harvest of citrus fruit and walnut trees. These trees provided a vehicle by which individuals were transported and transformed into a community. North Walk eventually became Norwalk Boulevard. Through time footprints became a path and the footpath a boulevard. 

"The bas-relief images were researched through the generosity of the Whittier Museum and the Whittier Historical Society.  The left door of this gateway represents Harriet Williams Russell Strong (1844-1926) with her four daughters, Harriet Russell, Mary Lyman Russell, Georgina Pierpont Russell and Nelle de Luce Russell.  The right door represents Florence Maple Thomburgh (1887-1994) .  The Garden Gate celebrates the accomplishments of the women of Whitter past, present and future."

Phase 2- 

Phase 3- 

Public artwork in the city of Whittier represents the local community, its culture, and its history. Many pieces that I have noticed over the years were designed to reflect the identities, traditions, and experiences of the people who live there, including different cultural groups that make up the community.Seeing public artwork around Whittier has made me think more about the different histories that are represented in the community. Many of the murals and sculptures reflect important parts of the city’s past, including the early presence of indigenous people, the Spanish and Mexican rancho period, and the later Quaker founding of the town. I also notice that some artwork highlights Whittier’s agricultural history, such as the citrus groves and railroads that helped the city grow. These artworks help tell the story of how the city developed and give residents a way to connect with the history and culture of the place where they live. 

In my research of the city of Whittier, I found that public artwork is funded and chosen through the city’s Art in Public Places program. Much of the funding comes from new development projects, which must contribute a small percentage of their building costs toward public art. An advisory committee reviews artwork proposals and makes recommendations, while the City Council and cultural arts groups help make the final decisions about what artwork will be placed in the community. 

Phase 4- 

In Whittier, I have seen public artworks such as murals and sculptures that highlight the city’s history and community identity. I especially like the murals that show scenes from Whittier’s past, such as the citrus groves and early town life, because they help tell the story of how the city developed and make public spaces feel more connected to local history. These pieces make the area more visually interesting and can help residents feel proud of their community.

However, I feel some public artworks feel less connected to the people who currently live in the city. At times the art focuses mostly on older historical themes and may not reflect the diversity of the community today. It might be helpful if future public art projects included more voices from local residents and represented a wider range of cultural experiences.

In the future, I would recommend placing new public art in areas where many people gather, such as parks, community centers, and downtown spaces, so that more residents can interact with it. Themes could focus on the diversity of the community, local culture, and everyday life in Whittier today. It would also be beneficial to create guidelines that encourage the city to work with local artists and community members when selecting artwork so the pieces better represent the people who live there.