The Edison, Downtown Long Beach’s newest residential and mixed-use development, will showcase an original artwork created by local artist Kevin Chartier. Chartier’s sculptural design, “Lights on Long Beach,” was selected by the owners from a group of proposals submitted by local area artists. Inspired by the Edison’s mid-century modern architecture and the building’s history as the former regional headquarters for Southern California Edison, Chartier’s artwork is a modern tribute to the City of Long Beach. The 20′ by 23′ backlit sculpture depicts a collection of the various districts comprising the City and will be displayed on the north wall of the two-story interior open-air “sunken” courtyard.
“We appreciate the value that local art can bring to create a special place for our residents and the community, and we felt it was only fitting to reach into the surrounding East Village Arts District and commission a local artist to design an original artwork,” said Cliff Ratkovich, President of Ratkovich Properties and co-developer of the Edison.
Currently under construction and scheduled for a Fall opening, the Edison is an adaptive reuse of the former 10-story office building located at the Western Gateway to the East Village Arts District at the corner of 1st Street and Long Beach Boulevard. The development will include 156 apartment lofts, 200 new residents and 4,000 square feet of ground floor restaurant and cafe uses. The development is a joint venture between Los Angeles-based The KOR Group, Long Beach-based Ratkovich Properties and Waterton Residential headquartered in Chicago.
Kevin Chartier is a Long Beach metal artist who specializes in mid-century modern design as well as abstract creations. For the last ten years, Chartier has produced a vast body of work, including an extraordinary assortment of commissioned sculptures for many companies. Some of his work can be seen at www.kevmon.com.
The artwork project is being managed by Long Beach Art Consultant, Sumako with Glaza Consulting.