Pershing Square art honoring John Fante and Carey McWilliams threatened: save Barbara McCarren's Hey Day!

UPDATE, APRIL 19, 2023: "Hey Day" is Saved! On February 2, 2023, we joined artist Barbara McCarren and Ligeia Gorre, CRA/LA Arts Manager from the Public Art Division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, for a walk through Pershing Square to discuss the impact that planned renovations will have on "Hey Day" and how the city can ensure the artwork is protected. 

Examining elements of "Hey Day" and talking about Pershing Square renovations

This was a productive and encouraging meeting, which was followed by further discussions between the artist and DCA. At their 9:30am meeting on 4/20/23, the Recreation and Parks Commissioners will discuss and vote on #23-083 Pershing Square Renovation Phase 1A, including specific plans for a partial relocation and restoration of parts of "Hey Day." Unfortunately, the stars in the central path will be lost in the minor remodel, but the rest of Barbara McCarren's art will continue to be a part of Pershing Square.  

The original post about this preservation crisis appears below.   

ARTIST'S STATEMENT (5/18/2022): As the original artist on the Pershing Square refurbishment in 1992-94, I have received no notification from the city, or any agency or commission in the city, about my artwork being moved, altered or removed from Pershing Square.  - Barbara McCarren, Venice CA

On May 19, 2022 in their 9:30am hearing, the Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners are scheduled to vote on Pershing Square Renovation Phase 1A. (PDF agenda link, see #22-124.)

We have reached out to Council District 14 asking for this item to be removed from the agenda due to the city's failure to address the threat to artist Barbara McCarren's public art installation "Hey Day" (1994). 

"Hey Day" honors two of our favorite Los Angeles writers, with a jagged stone path symbolizing the earthquake from John Fante's novel Ask The Dust leading to a wall inscribed with Carey McWilliams' incredible quote about the culture of the park, concluding "Here the American people were erupting, like lava from a volcano; here, indeed, was the place for me - a ringside seat at the circus." 

It is a wonderful sculpture that should not be demolished without an attempt to preserve it. If you share our concern, you can send an email to councilmember.kevindeleon@lacity.org or call (213) 473-7014, too. 

BACKGROUND: In January 2021, we halted and were able to void two virtual Cultural Affairs Commission hearings, because the public was not able to view or participate. Two proper public hearings were then held, which we live tweeted:

• February 10, 2021 

• April 14, 2021  

On the agenda at each hearing was granting $24 Million in public funds to construct a small portion of the poorly conceived and underfunded Agence Ter plan that was declared the winner of Jose Huizar's 2016 Pershing Square Renew design competition. 

On January 28, 2021 the Cultural Affairs Commission held a two hour Special Meeting to make up for the first Brown Act violation, but again the public was excluded, and the meeting voided. Video from that illegal meeting is extremely revealing about why the city is moving forward doing construction on the park, without the funds to actually redesign Pershing Square. 

This Restore Pershing Square petition update links to the video with timestamped explanations of The Truth About Pershing Square Redesign: It’s Eric Garcetti’s 2028 Olympics Pipe Dream.  

In the January through April 2021 hearings, the Cultural Affairs Commission repeatedly pressed architect Debra Gerod from Gruen Associates (local partner to French firm Agence Ter) to better explain the Pershing Square proposal and ensure the artwork and monuments in the park were protected.   

At the 4/14/21 hearing, before the Commissioners reluctantly approved $24 Million in initial funding, they reminded Gerod that following the artist's public comment on 2/10/21, she had been directed to come back and tell them what was happening to Barbara McCarren's “Hey Day,” but she had not done so. Here is our live tweet calling out this moment in the hearing. 

The Cultural Affairs Commission directed Gruen to communicate with Barbara McCarren about the situation. We have been looking forward to working with McCarren, Gruen, Department of Cultural Affairs, Rec and Parks and Council District 14 to address the threat to this popular piece of civic art and ensure a positive solution.  

We have confirmed this morning that Barbara McCarren has still not been contacted by anyone from DCA, Rec and Parks or Gruen Associates about the threat to her artwork, which is protected under the Federal Visual Artists Rights Act (VARA). She is extremely concerned that if the Rec & Parks Commission votes to move forward tomorrow, her work “Hey Day” will be destroyed. We share her concern.    

Today we asked asked Council District 14 to request that the item is removed from the agenda for future consideration, as the question of how the proposed renovations will likely destroy Barbara McCarren’s “Hey Day” have not been answered. We very much hope that they will do so.