Tikitotmoniki Totems, Contemporary art installation in Pearl District, Portland, United States.
Tikitotmoniki Totems are four abstract painted aluminum totem poles, each 30 feet (9.1 m) tall and measuring 1.75 inches by 40 inches by 42 inches, installed in 2001 at Jamison Square. They cover the catenary poles that support the Portland Streetcar's overhead wires.
The Pearl Arts Foundation commissioned artist Kenny Scharf to create these four totems, which were completed and installed in 2001. This work arrived during a period of artistic renewal in the Pearl District.
Kenny Scharf named the four pieces Tiki Totem monikers, linking them to Tiki culture that stretches from the South Pacific through the Pacific Northwest to Alaska. He has said art should above all be fun, and the painted aluminum forms carry that intent.
The sculptures are located on a public square and easy to see from all angles without barriers. You can visit the site at any time, as the artworks remain permanently in place.
The totems were specifically designed to function as structural elements of the streetcar infrastructure, not merely as standalone art. This practical integration makes them a rare example of art that also serves necessary city functions.
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