Laguna Beach City Hall lawn ready for a splash of light and color

The area in front of Laguna Beach’s City Hall could get a lot more colorful in the coming months.

Stereo.bot, a Los Angeles-based design and technology company, developed six circles, made of aluminum, that are illuminated in various colors by LED lights.

The installation, titled “Light Beam,” could be on display for two months beginning in January on the lawn at 505 Forest Ave.

The City Council this week unanimously approved the sculpture.

On Wednesday the Planning Commission will consider granting a temporary use permit, the final regulatory step.

The installation aligns with one of the goals of the city’s Cultural Arts Plan, which the council approved in March 2016.

One of the plan’s goals is providing accessible and informal year-round arts activities throughout the city, such as small-scale theatrical and musical performances and temporary installations such as “Light Beam.”

Each of the six circles would be 12 feet high and 2 feet wide, according to Cultural Arts Manager Sian Poeschl.

A computer program would control the lights’ brightness levels, according to a city staff report.

People would be able to walk through the circles as the sculpture is designed to be interactive, as if stepping into a kaleidoscope, Poeschl wrote in an email.

“We want audiences to think of public art in all its forms and hope that this pilot program is just the start,” Poeschl said.

In September the Arts Commission voted 4 to 3 for “Light Beam” over the sculpture “360 Beacon.”

“Light Beam” would remain the artist’s property and be on loan to the city.

If planning commissioners approve the permit request, the city would spend $26,900 of the Arts Commission’s program budget to cover construction, installation and removal of the sculpture.

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Twitter: @AldertonBryce