Kinetic Energy (2003) 

Ries Niemi

DESCRIPTION:  station art consisting of:
  • 550-foot long hand-wrought stainless steel and bronze sculptural fencing, bordering the railway
  • four 6-foot diameter tower-mounted bronze medallions
  • four stainless steel panels, enclosing the lower parking garage stairwell 


Artist's statement“In this work I have created an ‘alphabet’ of components and shapes, which I have then combined into many different ‘sentences.’ The work was largely created through an improvised process, almost like playing jazz, where each segment was tried in a variety of ways before the right one suggested itself. In the end, the piece is a lyrical and rhythmic narrative about the glory and mystery of machines.”      Metro Art 
LOCATION:  top and base of elevator tower, station fence, Metro Gold Line Del Mar Station, 240 S. Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, California, USA