Santa Monica, CA — January 1, 2026 — Artist Kate Mueller, in partnership with the Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Office, presents a temporary environmental art installation on Santa Monica North Beach. String of Light That Connects All Things invites the community to experience the beach at sunset through a series of steel, portal-like forms inspired by ancient structures built in alignment with the stars. The work reflects our rituals, the stories we share of the place we have in the cosmos, and our interconnectedness with the environment. 

The installation will be presented between Lifeguard Towers 13 and 14 and will be on view from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, with optimal viewing just before sunset at 4:55 PM.

String of Light That Connects All Things is part of Mueller’s ongoing series of temporary, place-responsive works that invite viewers to frame and reframe their point of view. Placed in concert with the expansive horizon of the Pacific Ocean, the installation frames the ephemeral beauty of light, time, and shared presence.

Drawing inspiration from ancient structures such as Stonehenge and constellations visible in our night sky, Mueller’s steel, portal-like forms function as contemplative markers in the landscape. Aligned with the stars and the passage of time, the work envisions an unbroken thread connecting humanity through ritual, storytelling, and a collective relationship to the cosmos and the environment.

String of Light That Connects All Things offers a quiet invitation—encouraging visitors to experience the beach not as a backdrop, but as an active participant in the work. As the sun lowers toward the horizon, light, shadow, and structure merge to create a meditative encounter rooted in community and nature.

This project is made possible in part by Art of Recovery, an initiative of the City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs, which supports artists and creative projects that foster healing, connection, and public engagement.

Event Details
Artist: Kate Mueller
Title: String of Light That Connects All Things
Date: January 1, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM (best viewed before sunset at 4:55 PM)
Location: Santa Monica North Beach, between Lifeguard Towers 13 and 14

Parking: Closest parking is Lot #3. 1150 Pacific Coast Hwy, Santa Monica, CA 90403

This is a paid parking lot. Use the pedestrian path to the shoreline and head towards the pier. The installation is between lifegard towers 13 and 14

Artist: Kate Mueller
Instagram: @katemueller__