The Great Wall of Los Angeles mural restored

Google Map of location.

I worked on the artist team that restored The Great Wall of Los Angeles mural in the Summer of 2011. Designed by Judith Baca and executed by community youth and artists, this monumental project was coordinated by the Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) over several summers in the 1970’s and 80’s. It is located on the eastern edge of the Valley College campus in the San Fernando Valley community of Valley Glen, on the concrete sides of the Tujunga Wash, part of the drainage system of Los Angeles, California. With a length of 2,754 feet (840 m), it is credited as one of the longest murals in the world.

The mural depicts the history of California through several panels; the first panels begin with prehistory and colonialism, but most of the following panels deal with events of the 20th century. It was created in conjunction with the rise of the Chicano Movement of the 1960s-1980s.

The Great Wall of Los Angeles also places emphasis on the history of Native Americans and minorities with sections depicting events such as Japanese internment and civil rights.

¡Adelante! Mexican American Artists:60s & Beyond

I was part of this exhibition which ran from September 10, 2011 thru January 2, 2012 at Forest Lawn Museum in Glendale, California. ¡Adelante! Mexican American Artists: 1960s and Beyond,” showcased a collection of works by an array of talented Mexican American artists, many who helped forge the Chicano Art Movement that began in the 1960’s, as well as a number of the new generation of artists. This extraordinary exhibit included paintings, drawings, sculpture, and photography.

The influential artists who participated in the exhibit included:

Judith F. Baca; Benjamin Botello; David Rivas Botello; Joseph Botello; Joe Bravo; Barbara Carrasco; Lupe Duarte; Yami Duarte; Ofelia Esparza; Paul G. Fuentes; Lalo García; Margaret García; Deanna Gomez; Elysa Gomez; Ignacio Gomez; Imelda Gomez; Yolanda González; Jaime Guerrero; Roberto Gutiérrez; Wayne Healy; Sergio Hernandez; jaxiejax (Jacqueline Sanders); Leo Limón; David A. Lopez; Pola Lopez; Los de Abajo Printmaking Collective; Heriberto Luna; Frank Martinez; David J. Negrón; Antonio Pelayo; Steven Botello Rivera; Bill Robles; George Rodriguez; Frank Romero; Shizu Saldamando; Steve Santillan; August H. Santistevan; Maria “Frances” Santistevan; John C. Santistevan (1974 – 1993); Melly Trochez; Patssi Valdez; George Yepes; ZANlovesEastLA (Rosanna Esparza Ahrens).