History Triforium (Los Angeles)

triforium @ night.

the mall s architect, robert stockwell commissioned artist joseph young create sculpture , installed in 1975. young s original plans called kinetic sculpture, use motion sensors , computer controlled system detect , translate motions of passersby patterns of light , sound displayed venetian glass prisms , carillon. young predicted public artwork become known rosetta stone of art , technology , boasted world s first polyphonoptic tower. said triforium tribute unfinished, kaleidoscopic nature of los angeles. in original concept, young intended sculpture project laser beams space, have made world s first astronomical beacon. budgetary restrictions, however, curtailed design element. initial cost of sculpture $925,000, , dedicated on december 12, 1975, although electrical snafu delayed musical portion s debut.

according michael several, authority on public art projects in los angeles, triforium sculpture incorporates 3 two-legged concrete pillars, each supporting bank of multicolored venetian glass prisms (1,494 in all). installation included custom-built gerhard finkenbeiner electronic 79 note glass bell carillon 2 octaves of english bells, , 2 octaves of flemish bells, synchronized lighting effects contained within glass prisms. meant play beethoven bee gees , carillon operated manually, or computer, resulting sound played through speaker system built triforium. . primitive computer installed in structure synchronize lights , music plagued problems.

unveiled fanfare @ opening of los angeles mall, triforium sculpture subsequently fell disrepair , became object of ridicule. legend has judge in federal courthouse across street claimed noise sculpture s sound system interfered trials , asked city officials shut down. on years, sculpture suffered leaking reflection pool located @ base , pigeons roosted in structure. reputed expensive fix, expensive tear down , sculpture still stands.

in 2002, joseph young reflected on state of disrepair sculpture had fallen into:

at times lonely... when affects public tastes, have armed face extremes of behavior.

finally, after decades of inoperation, lighting effects restored , reactivated on december 13, 2006 following $7,500 refurbishment. sound synchronization computer still due replaced when lights , sound turned on. sound heard triforium speakers originates external playback source , not finkenbeiner triforium carillon, disconnected , privately owned. in 2016, sculpture received further upgrade, paid $100,000 won in la2050 grant competition directed goldhirsh foundation.

a december 14, 2006 los angeles times article mentioned several nicknames sculpture has acquired on lifetime:

the psychedelic nickelodeon
trifoolery
three wishbones in search of turkey
kitsch-22 of kinetic sculpture
joe s l.a. space launch




^ triforium, (sculpture) . save outdoor sculpture, california survey. 1995. retrieved november 15, 2011. 
^ morrison, patt (may 18, 2006). once again, s `coming . los angeles times. retrieved december 6, 2015. 
^ michael several interview (1997)
^ http://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/program.pl?id=35232
^ http://www.downtownnews.com/dtvg/arts.html
^ bob pool (december 5, 2002). odd sculpture stands above public opinion . los angeles times. 
^ maese, kathryn (2008-12-08). return of triforium . [losangelesdowntownnews.com]. retrieved 2010-02-12. 
^ thomas harlander, controversial public sculpture in city getting $100,000 upgrade , los angeles, december 7, 2016.
^ pool, bob (2006-12-14). let there lights -- again . los angeles times. retrieved 2010-02-12.