Cypress Park Public Art - Kimberly Huerta

Cypress Park

For my civic engagement project, I chose to focus on Cypress Park. This place is located next to Lincoln Heights and Highland Park. I chose this place because it holds personal significance through my boyfriend, Christopher Sanchez. He grew up in this neighborhood and was my guide as he took me around to find artwork. He shared many memories of this place, as he has moved since. 

Christopher Sanchez described the neighborhood as an area along the border of Cypress Park and Lincoln Heights. He explained how, when he lived there, it was a community of mostly Hispanics that felt like family. However, because of gentrification, he explained that it changed to suit people who initially were not there. Christopher’s family had to move out because rent prices rose out of their reach, which could reflect the income of those seen in the neighborhood now. Today, Cypress Park is much more diverse with an increasing number of residents of white and black backgrounds.

Antigua Coffee House

Christopher started our tour just across the street from where he used to live, where he described a large mural of a man with a sombrero, an older lady, and an indigenous man. This was our tour's starting point, and the same artwork can still be seen on the wall of the Antigua Bread coffee house on the corner of Figueroa St and Loreto St. This particular artwork could not be identified by research or a signature. Still, the man depicted was Farabundo Marti, a Salvadoran political figure. Christopher explained that the owner of the Antigua coffee house had that artwork made to honor his background, which can be corroborated by research I conducted. Particularly, a blog post from PBS SoCal Conversation with Antigua Coffee House in Cypress Park, where the owner, Yancey Quiñones, talked about the artwork briefly and how it held deep roots within the community. There was no mention of an artist or exact date of installation however. Today, the mural is still up with very little wear and tear over the years.

Florence Nightingale Middle School auditorium

The next artwork Christopher showed me was just across the street on the wall of a middle school. On the wall of the Florence Nightingale Middle School auditorium is a mural showing kids practicing different hobbies, including the violin, folklorico, reading, and writing. While there was no information I could find online about it, Christopher explained how the mural was made while he was still a middle schooler himself, around 2013. To his knowledge, they created this mural to celebrate the youth and their accomplishments in the creative arts. Right next to the mural was a tunnel that Christopher explained allowed for crossing the street. However, it was closed because of the neighborhood gangs. Christopher explained that sometime around 2013, it reopened, but as a way for artists to show off their artworks. Upon further research, I found that the tunnel reopened in October 2012.

La Abeja Restaurant by Leo Limon

Next, a bit down the street is a restaurant called the Abeja, located on Figueroa St and W Ave 37. The restaurant is covered by a mural inspired by Aztec and Mexican art, that was painted by the artist Leo Limon. Through further research on Leo Limon's website, he is a Mexican-American Chicano muralist and cultural activist. What stands out most about his art is the vibrant color palette and messages behind his works. For this piece, the mural wraps around the exterior of La Abeja using colors such as green, red, and white to showcase Mexico’s flag. Within the flag, he incorporates Mexican and Aztec themes, such as traditional lines and shapes within animals like the snake on the corner. On his website, he refers to this mural simply as “La Abeja Restaurant” however, his work is reminiscent of cultural pride as he puts emphasis on the Mexican national symbols of an eagle and a snake. Christopher explained that this restaurant had been open since he was a small kid. I was able to find that this restaurant had been open since 1969. When it opened, it was originally a corner store with the owner’s parents’ kitchen built into it. Since then, it has become a staple in the community. 

Animal Conservation by Pascaline Doucin-Dahlke

Next, Christopher took me to an area that was closer to Lincoln Heights and showed me a mural that is on the wall of an animal shelter. On Lacy St, the North Central Animal Center. It has a mural of dogs and cats painted by artist Pascaline Doucin-Dahlke. It is named Animal Conservation. Pascaline made it as part of the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs’ art program. Christopher explained his memories here and how he volunteered one summer at this shelter, and it was a very refreshing experience for him.

Portrait of Anthony Bourdain by David Choe

The last artwork Christopher showed me in his neighborhood was just down the street from the animal shelter, a portrait. The portrait was very large, taking up the entire wall of a building. From the research I gathered, this was a portrait of Anthony Bourdain by David Choe, which was done in 2020. Upon going deeper into research, with the help of Reddit and slate.com, I was able to find out that the portrait was actually a well-painted portrait by Choe and was later defaced by Choe himself. The explanation behind why he did it is that it was commissioned by a documentary dedicated to Anthony Bourdain, which led to Choe defacing it as “‘He would love it if I did that."

Phase 3: Critical Analysis 

The murals in Cypress Park are a reflection of the neighborhood's history and its identity. Almost every piece of art tells a story of its Latinx community. Specific artworks that stood out as representations are Leo Limon's mural at La Abeja. He does not shy away from using traditional art styles while putting a twist on them to fit the area it is being put. In this case, a family-owned Mexican and Aztec food restaurant. Most of these artworks are created or commissioned by local business owners and Chicano artists who have a connection to the community, like Leo Limons, being a East LA local. Together, these works of art showcase their people by preserving their memory and honoring their identity even as gentrification changes the area. 

Phase 4: Proposal 

After exploring Cpress Park, I think it is a neighborhood rich in its cultural identity/roots. However, as time changes and gentrification is more apparent, I would like to see more updated pieces of art to represent its growing community. I would want them to preserve and keep the works already featured, but to add on to them. I would also love to see more colorful pieces of art displayed around children. I noticed the lack of color around schools that were very close to each other. One thing I would have loved to experience was the art exhibit connecting Florence Nightingale Middle School across the street through an underground tunnel. When Christopher told me about this art exhibit, I was super excited, but was sad to see it closed off. I think reopening this tunnel of art and having the community participate in a mural can bring together long-time residents of the area and new ones alike.