Located in northern San Fernando Valley, the Chatsworth Courthouse of the Los Angeles Superior Court opened in May 2002. Michael Davis is one of two artists who created civic art pilot projects for the site.

We The People is a three-part sculptural installation that makes visible through text and image the famous phrase that boldly establishes the Constitution of the United States. Each word of the phrase “we-the-people” is separately integrated within the entrance lobby and atrium of the Chatsworth Courthouse. The first word “WE” is situated high above in the lobby area; the large capital letters are covered with a copper alloy to evoke our penny coin, and are a striking presence set against a black background. Next, “The” appears as an inlaid design element within three massive black and white

granite benches in the atrium that together spell out T-H-E when viewed from the balcony. Finally, adjacent to the benches, “People” is figuratively represented by two wall-mounted gold-framed grids of black and white photographic portraits; each grid is a collection of one hundred faces of visitors and employees of the Chatsworth Courthouse.

About the Artist: Michael Davis is a San Pedro-based artist who has completed numerous solo and collaborative public art projects in Southern California and beyond. His credits include the Justice Center in Seattle, the Sunset/Vermont Metro Red Line Station in Los Angeles, Mission Trails in San Antonio, Arrowhead Arena in Anaheim, Heritage Park in Santa Fe Springs, and the North Hollywood Police Station. Davis holds an MFA from California State University, Fullerton.