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Arts Beat: Valley of Light solar installation coming to Santa Maria

The Santa Barbara County government center in Santa Maria is being transformed by public art. The newest installation, just now underway, is called Valley of Light. The design includes solar-powered sculptures and is a nod to Santa Maria’s agricultural past and present.

“The Betteravia government center is a place where folks go to do really important things in their lives, whether it’s the clerk recorder’s office to get a marriage certificate or they’re doing early childhood education or the health services that are there, or even probation. People go there and have moments that change their lives in many ways,” said Audrey Lopez from the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture.

Lopez said making the outdoor space more inviting for visitors and staff is important. She said public art can be inspiring, especially during times like the pandemic.

“Public art really creates unexpected spaces and times for people to interact with their environment in different ways than they normally do. Having something like public art pop up in a place in this unexpected way, brings a dynamic aspect into that space,” Lopez said.

To find the perfect design for the space, the County Arts Commission asked faculty members from Allan Hancock College to submit proposals with the theme of agriculture. Professor Nancy Jo Ward had the winning design.

Her design includes seven tree-like sculptures with leaves made of recycled acrylic panels that light up at night.

“I designed these sculptures out of 3-by-3 steel tubing and each of them have three branches that are situated in a mathematical series up the main post and then on each of those branches is an LED light,” Ward said.

Ward was inspired by outdoor light installations while traveling abroad, and said her proposal fit nicely with the new solar grid recently installed at the government buildings.

“It was just serendipitous that I had a project that needed electricity and the county was already involved in a contract to convert that whole campus to solar,” Ward said.

She said the light on the sculptures will cycle through various colors, creating a kaleidoscope effect.

“I’m a color fanatic; I just love color, so for this project to be taking on that aspect I think will be another surprise element as people become familiar with the project,” Ward said.

Ward said public art brings people together. She lives nearby and wants her art to be available to everyone, whether they come by car, bus, or bicycle.

“It gives people a memory and a collective experience that they can share with other people in their community,” Ward said.

Dennis Smitherman manages public art for the City of Santa Maria. He also chairs the County Arts Commission.

The project is being installed in a high traffic area near the intersection of Betteravia and South Miller Street.

“We just broke ground,” Smitherman said. “We’re going to have a nice, decomposed granite path that’s going to be accessible to everybody. You'll be able to walk through these sculptures that are beautiful, created by artist Nancy Jo Ward. We’re really looking forward to having this be a centerpiece for our community.”

Smitherman said there is a lot to consider when placing public art, and this particular location was selected for many reasons.

“We looked at accessibility, we looked at visibility, and a bunch of small factors put together really made this site the best,” Smitherman said.

He said Valley of Light will be a permanent addition to the landscape due to its sustainable design.

“The leaves will light up using solar energy captured by the new solar array here at the government building and will use SMART technology like LED to use a minimal amount of energy to light up these displays,” he said.

The project also includes opportunities for community outreach and education. Smitherman said classes at the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center will teach students to make their own Valley of Light sculptures by combining art and science.

“Youth will be able to create miniature sculptures using solar technology – bringing this home for those youth to identify this, not only as art, but also as a STEAM project,” Smitherman said.

Valley of Light is funded by a grant from the California Arts Council, and the Santa Barbara County Percent-for-Art Fund.

There will be ongoing progress at the Betteravia site throughout the summer with an expected completion date in the fall.

The KCBX Arts Beat is made possible by a grant from the Shanbrom Family Foundation.

Beth Thornton is a freelance reporter for KCBX, and a contributor to Issues & Ideas. She was a 2021 Data Fellow with the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism, and has contributed to KQED's statewide radio show The California Report.
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