Music legend and artist Herb Alpert unveiled a 16-foot, 9-inch sculpture this week entitled “Freedom” at the original “Gateway of Malibu” located on Pacific Coast Highway and Rambla Vista in eastern Malibu.
Alpert, a longtime Malibu resident, said the the beauty of the abstract piece allows people to interpret it for themselves but said “the overall feeling of the piece is freedom.”
“Freedom” is the first public art piece to be placed in Malibu.
“[This sculpture] is a good sign that the city is going to put up more art,” Alpert said. “Hopefully, it’ll be the first of many.”
Property owners Kimberly and Larry Abbott asked Alpert to design the sculpture and they both expressed their excitement at the “historic” unveiling and its location.
“We love Herb and his art and we love Malibu. To marry the two is an honor and a privilege,” Kimberly Abbott said. “We hope other residents will see it and bring art to other public places in Malibu.”
Alpert’s wife, Lani Alpert, also expressed her joy about seeing art in Malibu.
“I hope [this piece leads to more public art]. Malibu needs some good public art,” Lani Alpert said. “There are a lot of artists in Malibu, it would be lovely for that to be visible.”
Alpert, who is the co-founder of A&M records, will be honored by President Obama next week along with other recipients of the 2012 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal.