Local Art to Light up Betteravia Government Center in Santa Maria

Source: County of Santa Barbara

The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture is excited to announce the production of a new public art installation in partnership with Allan Hancock College and the City of Santa Maria. The project, “Valley of Light,” was designed by local artist Nancy Jo Ward, Professor of Design at Allan Hancock College. The artwork will be installed in summer 2021 at the County’s Government Center (Betteravia), located at the intersection of South Miller Street and Betteravia Road in Santa Maria.

Honoring the Santa Maria Valley’s agricultural past and present, “Valley of Light” comprises seven tree-like sculptures made of branches punctuated with brightly-colored, translucent acrylic leaves. Inspired by Ward’s own experience with vibrant outdoor light installations, the ecological design illuminates the way toward a sustainable future by featuring 100 percent solar-powered LED leaf lights, which will project kaleidoscopic fields of color into the space at night.

Accessibility and relatability were key design points for Ward, as the installation will be shared by diverse communities who use and move past the campus on foot, car, bus and bicycle.

The artist has strong connections to the project site through its multiple uses and functions. Living nearby, she recalls memories of her daughter attending Discoveries Preschool in the same building 27 years ago. Ward noted that from the County Clerk, to Probation Services and County Public Health, the Betteravia government campus is a place where community comes together and where lives change. Ward’s proposal was selected from an outstanding slate of submittals from faculty members in the Fine Arts Department at Allan Hancock College. 

Steve Lavagnino, Fifth District County Supervisor, said, “I am looking forward to highlighting the talented faculty, staff and students at Allan Hancock College and enjoying the addition of beautiful local artwork in our community.” 

As part of the project, students will be commissioned to create a new engagement map for public art on the campus, and Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA) will offer programmatic outreach. 

“Providing opportunities for local artists as well as new venues for the community to engage with the arts is an exciting venture,” says John Hood, Chair of the Fine Arts Department at Allan Hancock College.

Hood noted that this installation is one of several recent public art installations across Santa Maria that have been enthusiastically received and help reflect the rich and diverse cultures enjoyed by Santa Marians.

By connecting to the new solar grid at the Betteravia Campus, “Valley of Light” will run on 100 percent renewable energy, a transition all campus buildings will be making in 2021. 

“The installation efficient LED lights are solar powered through a photovoltaic and battery storage system that will also provide reliable power for the Betteravia Campus,” noted Ashley Watkins, Chief of the Sustainability Division at the County of Santa Barbara. 

County Arts Commission Chair Dennis Smitherman, who is also the project representative from the City of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department, praised the design for its “thoughtful, imaginative use of smart, responsible use of solar energy to light the displays.” Smitherman pointed to strong, long-standing partnerships between Allan Hancock College, the City of Santa Maria, and the County of Santa Barbara as essential in bringing complex projects like “Valley of Light” to fruition. 

As part of the public art project’s community engagement, the Office of Arts & Culture partnered with the County Probation Department to offer programming at Santa Maria Juvenile Hall. Local artists Kym Cochran and Jonathan Smith, known as The Environment Makers, will offer weekly light art and video projection mapping classes for the youth. In addition, through the City of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department partnership, art workshops will be offered at the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center.

This project was made possible through support from the California Arts Council and the County of Santa Barbara’s Percent for Art Program. Upon installation, “Valley of Light” will be the third public art project on the campus, joining a mural by Los Streetscapers and a new floral steel façade treatment on the Public Health, Probation, and Social Services buildings by Santa Maria-based artist Juan Manuel Perez Salazar. In addition, Betteravia Galleries North and South are located at the Government Administration Center, 511 East Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria.

As part of the project, students from Allan Hancock College’s Fine Arts Department will be commissioned to develop a free, bilingual engagement guide to the Betteravia campus for the public. A virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held after “Valley of Light” is installed.