News of the Arroyo
Title: | ASF paints watershed murals in Cypress Park |
Subtitle: | |
Date: | 2009-03-22 |
Summary: | 3-22-2009 Several dozen community members from East and Northeast Los Angeles participateed in the painting of watershed/arroyo seco related murals aroumd the confluence with the LA River. The murals were painted by "march for water" event participants as well as several classes from local schools and community members during the past 2 weeks. |
Author: | Arturo Gonzalez |
Publication: | Arroyo Seco News |
Content: | Arturo Gonzalez, Arroyo Seco Outreach Coordinator, has begun the creation of several watershed and Arroyo Seco themed murals in the communities around the Arroyo Seco-Los Angeles River confluence. The first 2 murals are part of the art element of the March for Water event on March 22nd, and are also the kickoff murals of a community art campaign around the confluence which intends to visually illustrate watershed awareness and aspects as well as the Arroyo Seco. For the past several weeks, Arturo has been working with local students to create murals around their schools that highlight watersheds and the Arroyo Seco. The first mural, titled \"Tlaloc and the Arroyo Seco\" focuses on the mexican indigenous water deity Tlaloc, who is creating rain on a map of the Arroyo Seco and Los Angeles below him. The mural theme and incorporation of Tlaloc are meant to educate locals about indigenous philosophy based around water (amongst other resources), the actual watershed and ecology/geography as well as Arroyo based art appreciation. A curriculum was created around the mural that is being taught to local schoolkids and will be continued by several other similarly themed but physically distinct murals that will be created by Arturo and local residents/students in the communities around the confluence. Students from Garfield, Franklin and East LA Occupational high schools as well as Nightengale middle and Glassell Park elementary schools participated in the mural creation and recieved education on watersheds as well. The second mural, titled \"Let the Arroyo FLOW\" is located at the Avenue 26 offramp of the Arroyo Seco Parkway just south of Figueroa. The design depicts waves in an again indigenous themed style (although no water deity this time) on a highly visible wall that is blighted with graffiti and trash. The mural collaborated with youth from Anahuac soccer league and Academia Avance, whom participated in the march for water, as well as local residents interested in painting and learning more about the watershed. The mural is located along the Arroyo Seco and is intended to bring more recognition and awareness of the river at the street level. During the mural creation ASF volunteers from the local community also cleaned up the offramp and removed invasive species, trash and hazardous materials. The murals are intended not only to act as a public mechanism for watershed education and Arroyo Seco involvement, they are also meant to create more awareness and grassroots support/action regarding ASF efforts to create more beneficial uses of the river and its surroundings. More beneficial uses include amenities like parks, a nautralizeed Arroyo Seco, water capturing best management practices and the mitigation of such nuisances as graffiti and transient encampments. The visual illustrations of the Arroyo Seco and watershed related subjects will amplify awareness of the river, efforts by the ASF and the need for community support around the confluence. There have already been over a dozen local residents who have spontaneously come to mural sites and volunteered, and have made concrete plans to parctipate in ASF and CASO events. The mural is also a collaboration between the Arroyo Seco Foundation and the East LA Community Arts and Mural Program (who donated paint, supplies and volunteers from Garfield high school), and is intended to create more support for the Arroyo Seco in the East Los Angeles area. The murals created so far, although visually distinct and impactful, are the first installments of a public art campaign with local schools around the confluence. This campaign and the murals are supported by the office of LA city councilman Ed P. Reyes, whose staff has been instrumental regarding permits and institutional support. More murals are planned for Lincoln Heights, Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Highland Park, Glassell Park, Northwest Pasadena and Cypress Park. Because of the traction regarding community support and excitement over the Arroyo Seco, many more murals are planned. If you would like to participate, please contact Arturo Gonzalez at (626) 230 7167. |
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