OCCUPATION Artists
HOME BASE New York City
SHOWSTOPPER Oldenburg and van Bruggen, who have lived, worked, and traveled together for the last 29 years, have been shuttling back and forth to L.A. in order to create their 65-foot-high, unfurling aluminum and stainless-steel Collar and Bow for the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall (151 S. Grand Ave.; 323/850-2000), which will be revealed early next year. “[The sculpture] represents the point in a performance when things are ready to become wayward, yet remain contained,” van Bruggen says.
WORKING VACATION For artists, the boundary between work and pleasure can be blurry. “We use travel as a new experience, one that we can build into new work,” says Oldenburg. Going to L.A. has an added appeal: “There’s more space, and artists can develop in a healthier way,” van Bruggen observes.
ONE SMALL STEP “It may be the wrong thing to do, but we love to walk here,” Oldenburg says with a laugh. Among their favorite destinations to explore on foot are the paths of Roxbury Park (471 S. Roxbury Dr.) in Beverly Hills.
UP NEXT In 2006, the duo will visit Denver and Seoul, in order to erect two site-specific installations.