In her recent commissioned public art sculpture, Alison Saar has created a stunning bronze sculpture, located at the Hall of Justice in Downtown Los Angeles. Here, the artist recounts the conceptual basis for the work:
“For the Los Angeles County’s Hall of Justice sculpture commission, I have designed a bronze female figure of grace and virtue, to represent the spirit of Justice. At 12 feet, she is tall enough to command the focus in the center of the Hall of Justice Plaza, but not so tall, so as too lose any personal connection with the visitors to the plaza. Her serene face is composed from a number of ethnicities, to represent the diverse population of Los Angeles County, almond eyes, broad nose, high cheekbones and full lips.
Embodied is not a typical depiction of Justice, for she wields no sword. This Justice needs no blindfold, for her lucid eyes are blind to creed and color, but all seeing in issues of truth and equity. Nor does she hold a scale. Instead she weighs and balances the book of the law and equates it to freedom and peace, as affirmed by the dove taking flight from her upheld hand.
Draped over on arm she holds her long braid. The braid is universal symbol of unification, by the twining of different entities to achieve a greater strength. Here I feel the braid symbolizes the coming together of the many threads of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s department to ensure a secure and peaceful environment.
Her exaggerated nine foot tall dress is etched with positive, affirming words to signify the spirit of Justice. These words have been collected from many of the staff involved with the Los Angeles County’s Sheriff ’s Department and District Attorney’s Office. Words were also solicited from the general public, and students by asking them to select words that they felt best embodied the spirit of justice. These words of justice, over 200 in more than a dozen languages, become “interwoven” into the very the fabric of the figure’s dress. The title of the piece, Embodied, concertizes all of the words expressed on the skirt. Bringing to life a multitude of voices in a resounding chorus for justice.”
- Alison Saar, 2015
Embodied (2014) is permanently on view in Downtown Los Angeles at the Hall of Justice, on the corner of Temple Street and Spring Street.
An exhibition of Saar’s work is currently on view at the Museum of African Diaspora (MoAD) in San Francisco, CA through April 3, 2016. More info here.
IMAGE: Alison Saar, Embodied, 2014, bronze, 12 x 6 ft. (3.7 x 1.8 m), Commissioned by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission Civic Art Program