Artwork Detail

In 1975, when the new Manhattan Beach library was being constructed, Lee Whitten was asked to submit several designs for a permanent Library artwork. This design, a sea and sand motif was selected. The mural measures approximately 12' H x 14.5' W and is composed of high fire stoneware clay tiles which have been glazed in six different colors. The artwork has 196 tiles and each tile was hand made and fired by Whitten. It is dedicated “For Jack” in memory of Whitten’s father. A large ceramic tile bas-relief mural which measures 14 tiles by 14 tiles. The tiles vary in size, but they appear to mostly be about 8.5" by 12.5" each. The tiles are reduction glazed in 6 colors: rust, white, beige, two shades of brown, and blue. The blue glaze is glossy, the other glazes have a matte finish. The glazes are in bands of color across the tiles and they form an image reminiscent of mountains and ocean. When I visited on May 29, 2007 there were several cracks and chips in the mural, as well as tiles in which the glaze appeared to have popped off in spots. Inscription in bottom right corner of mural says: "L.A. Whitten 1975 For Jack" I spoke with Lee Whitten today (June 7, 2007) He can't remember a title for the work and he thinks it probably doesn't have one. He said that he was contacted by the architect Heitschmidt Mounts (? Check this name) and asked to submit several designs. This one was not really his first choice and the subject matter was selected by the architect (they wanted a sand and sea motif). Whitten origianally wanted to do cast mouldings of books from the Library. All the tiles were hand made, glazed, and fired by the artist using a high fire stoneware clay. They were installed by a professional crew that the artist supervised. “For Jack” – the mural was dedicated to the artist’s father who died during the completion of the mural. He was a very nice guy and said that we could contact him with any more questions that come up.

Lee Whitten graduated from UCLA and taught ceramics at Los Angeles City College for many years before recently retiring. His other public pieces in the Los Angeles area include a wall of cast sculptures of real food for the historic Billy’s Café and Deli in Glendale.