Articles

Connector

By Richard Serra 
2006, Weatherproofed steel

When the construction of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall was nearing completion, Elizabeth and Henry Segerstrom commissioned Richard Serra to create this sculpture. The 65-foot 410-ton sculpture consists of 5 twisted steel plates that were fabricated in Siegen, Germany, shipped to California, and assembled on site. The spacious base narrows to a four-foot pentagonal aperture at the top, with an ever-changing view of the sky. It is meant to be viewed from the outside and inside. Up close, the surface of the steel is painted beautifully by natural oxidation and weather, leaving a complex pattern. Serra’s sculptures have been installed or exhibited in museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain.

Fire Bird

By Richard Lippold
1986, Gold, silver, and red stainless steel

Henry Segerstrom commissioned Richard Lippold to create Fire Bird in 1985 for Segerstrom Hall, which was being constructed at the time. Lippold was an American sculptor known for his geometric wire creations, and the three-ton sculpture is 60’ high, 120’ wide and 100’ deep. Fire Bird is constructed from gold, silver, and red aluminum and stainless steel, and its placement on the building makes the sculpture appear suspended in the air—integrated in the interior and exterior of Segerstrom Hall—ready to soar. 

Reclining Figure

By Henry Moore
1981, Bronze Edition 2/9

Reclining Figure by Henry Moore was a gift from the Center’s Angels of the Arts women’s support group. It has a prominent place of honor at the upper entrance to Segerstrom Hall, at the top of the Arrival Gardens. Moore’s sculptural process was one of modeling and smoothing the "body" of a single mass rather than constructing forms. The bronze sculpture is 4’ high by 7’ long mounted on a 4.5’ by 7.5’ black granite base. Moore has captured the dignity and living force of a woman through his mastery of open and closed form, and he encourages us to see that space around the figure is as important as its solid material. Moore’s works may also be seen in New York City’s Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Spatio Virtuo Teatro

By Jason Meadows
2006, Painted steel

Jason Meadows designed Spatio Virtuo Teatro for South Coast Repertory Theater with the intention of bringing the theater outdoors. The pink, purple, blue, and silver painted steel sculptures offer guests a glimpse at the experiences they could expect inside. Near the theater box office, The Storyteller sits at the end of a bench excitedly telling his tale to passersby. Herald represents the playgoer and sits watching, while Upstage/Downstage represents the stage itself, complete with overhead lighting and theatrical crew. The Los Angeles-based artist’s work has been featured at the Los Angeles Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Tate Modern in London.

Oiseau

Joan Miró
1981, Bronze, Edition EA-1

Commissioned by Henry Segerstrom in 1981, the cast bronze sculpture Oiseau by Joan Miró is placed in the lobby of Center Tower, next to our campus. A surrealist, Miró is known for his distinct work, blending invention with the spirit of nature. Oiseau's rounded sides and sharp projections lend it a cartoonlike character, exemplifying the artist’s whimsical sense of humor. Miro’s works have been exhibited in major galleries throughout the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York. 

Located four stories above the lobby of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall lobby is its own stunning piece of architectural jewelry. Three hundred strands of polished stainless steel form a spiral in the air and hold individual LEDs with clear Baccarat crystals—except one steel strand, which has a red crystal. In addition are Swarovski crystal "stars" and sweeping coves also illuminated by LEDs. The combination of elements results in an intense sparkle that is reflected in the polished surfaces and glass.