Showing Some Heart : Transportation: Father-son team helps make the daily commute more bearable by erecting colorful lighted sculptures near a freeway artery. Their latest creation commemorates Valentine’s Day.

From dusk to dawn, the 24-foot glowing red heart pierced by an enormous white arrow looms above the Harbor and Redondo freeway interchange.

Etched against the night sky, the sculpture--illuminated by nearly 300 lights--is a Valentine’s Day greeting from Jesse and Bud Gardner.

It’s the latest in a series of seasonal sculptures erected to amuse the thousands of motorists driving past the interchange every day.

The art is the work of Jesse Gardner, 44, president of the California Fence & Supply Co., and his father, Bud, 67, a retired furniture manufacturer.

“It all started when dad and I created a 20-foot Christmas tree out of bent square tubing and covered it with 350 Christmas lights and hoisted it onto the roof of our building next to the freeway in December, 1992,” Jesse Gardner said.

Since then, the Gardners and 14 employees of the fence company have displayed giant metal sculptures on the roof saluting special days or seasons.

The sculptures are visible during the day, but after dark, in the brilliant glow of lights, the figures attract the greatest attention.

First a mammoth shamrock commemorated St. Patrick’s Day, then a bunny and basket of eggs for Easter and later a 20-foot sombrero for Cinco de Mayo.

For Mother’s Day it was a huge floral arrangement, gigantic lilies for Memorial Day, a 23-foot necktie for Father’s Day, an enormous birthday cake topped with five candles shaped like firecrackers for the 4th of July.

For Labor Day there was a 21-foot beach umbrella shading a pot-bellied man in a hammock, a ship for Columbus Day, a giant pumpkin with a Betty Boop face for Halloween.

A cross-eyed, bow-legged turkey was there for Thanksgiving. That was followed by another Christmas tree and an anchor saluting the about-to-be-closed Long Beach Naval Station.

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All the works are supported by nearly invisible stainless steel guy wires. The sculptures are set up several days before a holiday and remain in place several days after the occasion.

“Driving the freeways isn’t much fun. This is our way to add a smile or two to the daily commute,” said Jesse Gardner.

Although motorists are not aware who erects the art, the fence company has received phone calls and letters of appreciation for the fanciful sculptures.

A letter from Gardena signed by Linda Marie Alvarez and Gabriel Torres expressed these sentiments:

“In this day and age when graffiti seems to be the most popular form of expression, your choice of lighting up each season is greatly appreciated.”