An exhibit that may move you

When you think of Southern California, public art and public transportation are perhaps not the first things that come to mind. But the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is out to change that. To add to artwork already in place at Metro stations throughout the Los Angeles area, the authority has commissioned a group of local artists to design works for the Metro Orange Line, scheduled to start operating in the San Fernando Valley this year.

While ceramic art at the Hollywood station (Metro Red Line) plays off the stars on the boulevard above, and design at the Chinatown station (Metro Gold Line) is inspired by traditional Chinese motifs, artist Pat Warner’s porcelain enamel steel panels for the Pierce College station feature images of birds that have been spotted on campus.

In addition to Warner, the commissioned artists include, among others, Sandow Birk, Renee Petropoulos, Laura London, Daniel Marlos, Roxene Rockwell, Michele Martinez and John O’Brien. Their designs will go on display at Pierce College on Monday in an exhibition running through April 21.

Eventually the artwork will be displayed at 14 stations between Warner Center and North Hollywood to be serviced by the high-tech Metro Liner.