Vermonica

DETAILS:

• Location: In Hollywood on Santa Monica Blvd at the insertion with Lyman Place.

  • It’s basically across the street from the Los Angeles Public Library - Cahuenga Branch. That address is 4591 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029.

• Hours of Operation: 24/7.

• Parking: Free street parking & metered parking available. Please observe any posted parking signs.

• Cost: Free!

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes.

• MISC

  • As of May 2021, lights turn on at approximately 8PM

  • It’s located in a rougher part of Hollywood (which may be a redundant statement), so be mindful of your surroundings and personal belongings.

Preceding LACMA’s Urban Light by fifteen years, Sheila Klein’s public art installation “Vermonica” (named after its original location at the intersection of Santa Monica Blvd and Vermont Ave) pulls together a varied collection of 25 local street lamps that is as much a Los Angeles history lesson as it is a piece of art. 

Initially erected in 1993, it stood at its original location undisturbed for over 20 years until it was removed by the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lights to make way for local construction in 2017. None of this was conveyed to Klein who had worked with the city to make the original installation possible. A rightfully irate Klein spent several years petitioning the city to reinstall her work until her efforts were finally rewarded.  “Vermonica” was restored at its current location in 2020, bright lights and all!