Bus terminal basks in bright idea; Lili Lakich sculpture of neon and metal dresses up flyaway.

L.A. artist Lili Lakich's metal-and-neon sculptures have been displayed in art galleries, bank lobbies and even on the wall of a museum parking garage.

Her latest abstract figurative piece, the 114-foot-long "Flyaway," was recently installed at the Van Nuys Fly Away Bus Terminal, of all places.

"This is a work that a large number of people will be able to interact with every day and I like that," said Lakich, 64, who has been doing neon sculptures for the past 40 years. "Flyaway" is her largest-scale public art commission to date.

The sculpture depicts two figures: Pegasus, the mythical winged horse, and a stylized human figure in flight, incorporating two movie reels. At the base of Pegasus' body are neon wheels. The figures ate connected by multicolored neon strips. More than 700 feet of neon tubing powered by 200,000 volts illuminate the artwork, which is lit 24 hours a day.

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Lakich was paid $217,000 by the Los Angeles World Airports for the piece, but is in negotiations for an additional $24,000 to cover material costs overruns.

"The big challenge in public art is to appeal to a broad range of people and I'm pretty happy with how this worked out," she said.

The most touching feedback Lakich has received?

"There's a custodian at the station who is deaf and one day he passed me a note which said, 'It's really beautiful,'" she said.