The mission of the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture is to advance arts, culture, and creativity throughout LA County. We fulfill our mission by providing services and support in areas including grants and technical assistance for nonprofit organizations; professional development opportunities; commissioning civic artworks and managing the County’s civic art collection; implementing countywide arts education initiatives; research and evaluation; career pathways in the creative economy; free community programs; and cross sector creative strategies that address civic issues. This work is framed by the County’s Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative and a longstanding commitment to fostering access to the arts.
Horse and Reader, which sits on an oak pedestal, portrays a young girl reading a book while lying on her pony’s back; the artist’s niece modeled for this sculpture. The sculpture is made of wire mesh coated in papier maché, reinforced with fiberglass cloth and casting resin and painted in bright acrylic colors.
About the Artist:
Since the age of five, artist Megan Rice has resided in Topanga Canyon. Her two colorful sculptures for the children’s section of the Topanga Library were inspired by her own childhood experiences in the neighborhood. Rice recalls, “From age five, my most cherished memories consist of running barefoot on the rough earth, wading the creeks, witnessing the wild animals, birds, reptiles and insects that populated Topanga Canyon in the 1950’s and 60’s. Additionally, my family kept a large menagerie of domestic animals.” Rice holds a BA from Mills College and her work has been included in many group exhibitions throughout California.