After 20 years, 'The Big Wave' 1989 by Tony DeLap shines bright with its new led lights over Wilshire Blvd. on Wednesday, December 15, 2010.

 

Completed in 1989 as one of the City’s first public art projects,  the sculpture spans Wilshire Boulevard at Franklin Avenue and has become an iconic gateway to Santa Monica.  At seeing his work light up, Mr. DeLap declared, “The Big Wave has finally come to life again, after 20 some years. I am delighted with the recent restoration and the wonderful new LED lighting, which was not available technically when the piece was installed.  I thank the City of Santa Monica, and all those associated with this project for their efforts. It is extremely rewarding to see the Big Wave light up Wilshire Boulevard.”

Over the past 20 years, the artwork had deteriorated substantially, suffering from rust and corrosion, and the lighting system was no longer functional.  Last year, the City retained the team of Exclusive Welding, Inc. and Rosa Lowinger & Associates to work with Mr. DeLap to perform the restoration.

The team, which began work early last month, cleaned and painted the surface of the sculpture and removed the non-functioning fiber optics and Plexiglas cover. They then installed energy-efficient LED lighting that uses about 50 watts of energy to light the entire sculpture—making the signature-colored “Big Wave Blue” artwork “green”!  The sculpture will be illuminated in the evening hours and is on a smart, astronomically-synced timer which will turn the lights on a half hour before sunset and off a half hour after sunrise year-round.

Tony DeLap is a major West Coast artist, internationally recognized for his abstract sculpture utilizing illusionist techniques and meticulous craftsmanship. As a pioneer of West Coast minimalism and Op Art, DeLap's œuvre is a testament to his willingness to continuously challenge the viewer's perception of reality. 

To learn more about his work, visit the Peter Blake Gallery website at:  http://www.peterblakegallery.com. For more information about the City’s Percent for Art Program, please visit http://arts.smgov.net. For more information about Exclusive Welding Inc. and Rosa Lowinger & Associates, please visit their websites at: http://www.exclusiveweldinginc.com/ and http://www.rosalowinger.com/.

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