When the AQUA condominiums were built there was a requirement by the local redevelopment agency that the developer spend a percentage of the construction budget on public art to be featured on site. That is how the developer got together with the Arts Council for Long Beach, the City of Long Beach, and a program called Percentage for the Arts to commission renowned public artist, Andrew Leicester, to install artwork at the AQUA towers.
The artwork highlights the art deco style that downtown Long Beach is well known for while tying in with the local history of the early movie days. It also takes from Long Beach’s roots as a seaside resort while borrowing a little inspiration from Greek mythology.
This installation is showcased on top of each tower with some large statues. The west tower at 388 Ocean Blvd. has an Art Deco version of the mythological Greek god Zeus named Bruce. The east tower at 488 Ocean Blvd. has an art deco version of Aphrodite named Phoebe.
Bruce shows a sign of strength as he stands on a surfboard while parting the waves with his arms. The surfboard helps tie the artwork to Long Beach’s history of aquatic recreation and the waves that used to break a short distance from where the AQUA sits today before the construction of the breakwater.
Phoebe shows playful abundance standing on a clam between the waves and holding a beach ball. The clam ties back to Long Beach’s one-time notoriety for bountiful clam harvests. She is reported to have been inspired by a figure seen in a 1920s brochure promoting Long Beach as a seaside resort to people from the Midwest. However, its similarity to the iconic painting, The Birth of Venus, by Sandro Botticelli makes one wonder if that is where the designer of the brochure got their inspiration.
The seaside art deco movie theme is further carried out above the lobby entrances with statues performing a wave dance as inspired by Busby Berkeley movies featuring elaborate dance routines performed by synchronized swimmers. This theme continues with ocean swimmers woven into the decorative fencing and strategically spaced light fixtures inspired by Phoebe placed along the walkways.
This permanent art installation will leave a creative touch that will have an impact on the community that will conceivably last well over a hundred years. We hope that the description gives a little more insight as to the thinking behind the artwork. We think this extra insight increases the appreciation of the artwork while highlighting some of our very interesting local history. Hope you agree.
