Pasadena’s Rotating Public Art Program Brings “Arroyo” to Life

Pasadena’s Rotating Public Art Program continues to enliven the city’s landscape with the addition of “Arroyo,” a captivating sculpture by artist Kellan Shanahan that invites residents and visitors to experience artistry hidden in unexpected places.

Located in District 2 at the split of E. Foothill Blvd and E. Walnut St., “Arroyo” is a custom Corten steel sculpture inspired by the geography of the nearby Arroyo Seco. 

Shanahan utilized topographic data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Shuttle Radar Topography Mission to present the landscape as an aesthetic form sculpted by the machinery of nature. The artwork also pays homage to the scientific contributions of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Jet Propulsion Laboratory toward appreciating the natural environment and data-driven efforts to mitigate climate change.

The City of Pasadena Public Art Program, established in the late 1980s, aims to aesthetically enhance both new private development and City construction projects, according to the City of Pasadena. The program has been successful in installing a total of eighteen works of artwork during Phases I and II of the Rotating Public Art Program, which was established in 2011.

The Rotating Public Art Program is intended to complement the permanency of both the Private Development and Capital Public Art Programs by placing artworks throughout the city that activate unusual locations, transforming small, often unnoticed areas into exciting destinations for visitors and residents to discover. By presenting original artworks at established locations, the program encourages residents and visitors to circulate throughout the city and experience the entirety of each exhibition.

Pasadena’s Public Art Collection includes over 175 artworks, many of which have been created by artists of local and national recognition. These artworks document permanent and temporary public art projects commissioned through the City’s Private Development and Civic Public Art Programs. Artworks facilitated by the Cultural Affairs Division on behalf of community partners are also included.

With its third iteration, the Rotating Program welcomes eight new artworks, three of which were created in direct response to their respective sites. This temporary public art program aims to expand the context for public art in Pasadena, enliven neighborhoods, produce dynamic visual experiences in unique settings, diversify opportunities for artists working in the public realm, stimulate local discourse about public art, and provide a cultural draw for visitors to Pasadena.