Arts District Public Art
Phase 1
For my site, I chose the Arts District of DTLA. Although I didn't grow up in this area, I find a lot of inspiration here because of the endless amount of art. I am often in this area walking around, so there are pieces that I can really appreciate. Graffiti, murals, paintings, and museums filled with art are on every corner.
Phase 2
Artist: Unknown
"hope is a good thing. maybe the best of things...."
pictured is a little girl kneeling blowing a dandelion as the seeds turn into birds in the air.
Artist: Blake Whitaker
Name: Ascending Cow III
pictured is a mural of a landscape of a stormy sky with a cow floating in the middle
"According to Blake, it can be seen as a cow's transcendental journey to achieving "justice and freedom long worked for and righteously due".
Artist: Alex Ali Gonzales with Alejandro Chavez in background
Pictured is a tribute mural of Jean-Michel Basquiat. He was a graffiti artist in NYC under the alias SAMO. His work addressed race, class, and social justice.
This mural includes the phrase "ARTE PARA LA GENETE" which translates to "art for the people".
Artist: Corie Mattie "LA hope dealer"
"LA is Family"
pictured is a mural of doves flying around with the quote "LA is Family" in bold in the middle
Mattie intends to shift perspectives and change; she creates murals to raise funds for programs such as those for breast cancer, wildfire recovery, and animal charities.
Artists: Jose 'Nuke' Montalvo, Erick 'Duke' Montenegro, Rogelio 'Angst' Cabral, Helen Samuels
1992
Name: Earth Crew Mural
pictured above is a landmark in the Los Angeles cultural history. It was painted to honor achievements and the culture of Native American nations.
Artist: Unknown
pictured is a woman holding a magnifying glass to her eye in black and white.
Artist: MorgantheFace.com
instagram: Morganmorgan.1935fooooooot
pictured is this black and white image of a man painted onto a wall.
There are many themes of politics, murals, and thoughtfulness in these works of art around the Arts District. The Arts District used to be home to old warehouses, but now it is a popular area for coffee shops, breweries, restaurants, and street art. Since this place used to be home to old warehouses, the area is filled with contemporary design, like Art Deco and Beaux-Arts facades and modern designs that reflect the area's past. A lot of different people are being represented in these works of art. We have murals to honor Native American cultures, street artist tributes, and a lot of hope being shown. Most of the murals are also very well maintained; you can tell they are being funded and cared for.
Phase 4
I really appreciate all the art I've seen in this area. There are some silly works and some serious pieces with heartfelt meaning. This is what we need as a community. We need our serious moments about caring for our community and what we represent, but we also need to remember that life isn't all serious at all times. Sometimes, we need to be able to have some fun. That being said, I wish there were more art everywhere. Personally, I didn't choose my own community because of the lack of public art around me. While taking all these photos and doing this research, I can feel envy of how much there was in the Arts District, while minimal amounts in my own community. I live in a primarily Hispanic community, so I would love to see Hispanic artists' work around the community to appreciate.
With this project, I loved being able to do some research on the art that I would walk by almost 4 times a week for the past couple of years. I felt more informed about the community and the environment that this community has built. It really is important to have these murals and paintings to represent what the people in the area feel strongly about.
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