Artwork Detail

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We The People

Artist: Davis, Michael

Date: 2002

Medium: Copper alloy; Granite; Photographic prints in a gold plated frame

County Department: Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles

Artwork Site: Chatsworth Courthouse

Supervisorial District: 3

Location Status: Permanent

About the Artwork:

We The People is a three-part sculptural installation that makes visible through text and image the phrase that establishes the Constitution of the United States. Each word of the phrase “We the People” is separately integrated within the entrance lobby and atrium of the Chatsworth Courthouse. The first word “WE” is situated high above in the lobby area; the large capital letters are covered with a copper alloy like the penny coin. “THE” appears as an inlaid design element within three massive black and white granite benches in the atrium that the viewer can see spelled out from the balcony. Adjacent to the benches, “PEOPLE” is figuratively represented by two wall-mounted gold-framed grids of black and white photographic portrait. Each grid is a collection of one hundred faces of visitors and employees of the Chatsworth Courthouse.

About the Artist:

Michael Davis is a San Pedro-based artist who has completed numerous solo and collaborative public art projects in Southern California and beyond. His credits include the Justice Center in Seattle, the Sunset/Vermont Metro Red Line Station in Los Angeles, Mission Trails in San Antonio, Arrowhead Arena in Anaheim, Heritage Park in Santa Fe Springs, and the North Hollywood Police Station. Davis holds an MFA from California State University, Fullerton.