Let Art Be Your Guide through Santa Clarita

As you explore Santa Clarita, what are you struck by? Maybe you are taken aback by the breathtaking beauty of the rolling hills that envelope the Santa Clarita Valley or the tree-lined streets that welcome residents and visitors alike. Perhaps you are enthralled by our historical roots or prefer to lose yourself in the tranquility of the miles of off-street trails that take you on a personal adventure in the City. No matter your pleasure, you will find public art pieces guiding your journey through Santa Clarita.
Finding works of art is as easy as looking down at your own two feet. For the past three years, the City of Santa Clarita has incorporated art into its annual Sidewalk Rehabilitation Program through the Sidewalk Poetry Project. Individuals submit poems for consideration and winning entries are then stamped on rehabilitated sidewalks throughout the City. As a result, more residents are exposed to poetry when they are at the park, waiting for a Santa Clarita Transit bus or visiting a local shopping center. Ten new poems were selected for the project in 2022, bringing the total to 40 in Santa Clarita. This fall, you will be able to see the location of each stamped poem using the Public Arts Tour app through SantaClaritaArts.com.
While reading the written words beneath your feet, you will likely find yourself face to face with another form of public art – sculptures. Whether you are admiring the Communitree, which is a steel tree with a canopy that spans 17 feet wide and stands 25 feet tall with kinetic leaves by C.J. Rench, or Circle Song by Katy Krantz, a mural completely comprised of handmade glazed ceramic tiles at the Canyon Country Community Center or finding every Art Bear; you’ll gain a new perspective on life in Santa Clarita.
California Scape, located at Fair Oaks Park, is by the artist team Forma Studio and is an interactive sculpture that reflects the natural landscapes of the Santa Clarita region. This piece provides the community with a space to reflect on nature and its calming effects. The sculpture’s dynamic and fluctuating geometry allows for park-goers to lounge in the curves and offers a connection to its surroundings as it has a tree growing into the design.
Two additional sculptures are on display as part of the City’s Temporary Public Art collection. Located at the South Fork Trailhead along Magic Mountain Parkway west of Railroad Avenue, Growing Wings by Hilde DeBruyne signifies the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly and gives you an energy boost while running or cycling. Steel Breeze by Dev Harlan is a stunning geometric sculpture that can be found at Plum Canyon Park (18876 Annmae Place) and is based on the principles of experience, self-direction and curiosity. The City is in the process of adding three new pieces to the collection that will be displayed temporarily in Santa Clarita.
You can learn more about public art in Santa Clarita and let art be your guide by using the Public Art Tour app available at SantaClaritaArts.com. Whether you use the mobile app or desktop version, you will be able to get more information and directions from your location to public art pieces in Santa Clarita so that you can see each with your own eyes.
When you are out and about in Santa Clarita, be sure to keep your eyes open for all of the wonderful public art on display. From paintings and murals to sculptures and sidewalk poetry, you are steps away from world-class works of art.

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