Public Art in El Monte

I chose the neighborhood of El Monte, CA, as my site for the civic engagement project. El Monte is known for its large Mexican population, historic connection to the Gold Rush, its own local museum, and so much more. As someone who lives here, I decided it's easier for me to show artwork that I'm familiar with and the ones that are more obscure.

Lion Statue of Gay's Lion Farm (2000)

Unknown artist
Located to the 10 freeway's overpass in between the Peck Rd & Valley Blvd intersection
Erected by the City of El Monte
El Monte's historical landmark
Life-seized bronze statue of a male lion that's sitting on a stone pedestal.

It marks the original site of the lion face.
It's fenced in with several prancing lion silhouettes cut outs placed on the iron face
Plaque inscription:

"In celebration of Gay's Lion Farm from its start on July 1, 1925 until its closing in December 1942. The roars of hundreds of lions could be heard throughout the valley, into the hills and beyond".

Made in honor of Gay's Lion Farms, which became the defining symbol of El Monte.

Brought in unique international fame.
Many notable and famous people, who traveled to El Monte, for its attraction.

Examples: Charlie Champlin, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and her son, etc.

The farm was closed during World War II, and officially closed down in 1949 because of Charles Gay's ill health.

He and his wife sold the lions to nearby zoos or circuses as they can no longer afford to feed or have them.

The original lion statue, that once stood at the farm, is now located in the El Monte High School campus.
It's showing signs of deterioration as its bronze surface is being worn down because of lack of maintenance, weather, and time.

There's possibly concrete or heavy layers of dust peaking out of the lion's mane or body.

Statue of Liberty Replica (1987)

Unknown artist
Tourist attraction
Local Landmark
Location: In front of El Monte City Hall and El Monte's Police Department

The city had trouble finding a permanent location for the statue after its public appearance.

Erected by the El Monte City Council
Donated by Dr. Jing T. Wang, a Taiwanese immigrant doctor.

Paid $50,000 as his appreciation for living here.

22 ft tall fiberglass statue standing on top of a 3 ft tall brick base

The statue was repainted to closely resemble the oxidized appearance of the actual Statue of Liberty.
Smaller replica of the actual statue.
Plaque inscription:

"Dedicated to the citizens of El Monte on the occasion of the kick-off ceremony for the year long diamond jubilee celebration of El Monte's 75th anniversary of incorporation".

Vamos Juntos (2014)

Artist: Martin Durazo
Location: El Monte Metro Station, J Line, Santa Anita Ave.
Part of the El Monte Stations mural set.
A four-panel abstract digital imprint wall-mounted digital imprint mural.

The art style is supposed to represent the active environment of El Monte passengers and Metro transportation.
Vibrant colors and brush strokes represents capturing people traveling:

Metallic blues = California shores meeting the metal man-made transportation culture.
Ground colors = Southern California landscape.

The goal of the mural is make the viewer feel energized, happy, and welcomed to be a part of the city's on-the-go culture.
Each panel has its own title:

"Ojo" - Someone's always watching you

Usually a positive or negative superstition about warning people.
For Durazo, "ojo" means protection towards passengers

"Voom" (Far right) - literal sound effect that vehicles take off"
"Sunset" - Pagan idea of "battle between light and dark

Refers to people leave at sunrise and returning at sunset

"Joker Plus Jester" - supposed to be an abstraction of a clown

Refers to having fun and being young

Time Piece (2012)

Artist: Donald Lipski
20ft x 30ft
Location: Front entrance of the El Monte Bus Station
Owners: LA Metro
An aesthetic and cultural landmark.
A part of Metro's art program.
3 double faced clocks that are suspended in an arch web of stainless steel.

The clocks are computer controlled that glow at night.
The back side of the clocks depicts the El Monte city seal.
All clocks shows the same exact time.

It establishes a focus and a sense of place.
It speaks of history, stability, tradition, and community.
It was inspired by imaging the energetic environment and his visits to the bus station.

In the Meadow (2014)

Artist: Phung Huynh
Location: El Monte Metro Station, J Line, Santa Anita Ave
Part of the El Monte Stations mural set.
4-panel digitally-imprinted mural

Tributed to El Monte's rich history through symbolic and metaphoric imagery

Stylized figures are inspired by Mexican and Chinese folk art traditions and Japanese woodblock.

They honor farm workers

Chinese honor the historical lions of Gay's Lion Farms of the 1920s and 30s and the El Monte High School mascot.
Some panels depict picturesque glimpses into El Monte's past.

Graphic and geometric style reflects nearby structures surrounding the El Monte Station.
Color palette were inspired by the colors of the plants and other surrounding nature:

Succulents
Flowers
Drought tolerant plants throughout the station

Kizh Spirit in the Sky (2024)

Artist: Man One
82 ft public mural
Located in Downtown Valley Mall on AT&T Building
Collaborated with El Monte City, Man One, Kizh Nation, and AT&T building
Depicts Chief Ernest Salas

A portrait of late spiritual leader of Kizh Nation (also known as Gabrieleños Band of Indians).
Looking towards the west, where the sun sets, representing where his people believe they'll settle at the end of their lives.

Symbols of the Kizh culture

Eagles (high social status)
Willow Branches (house materials)
Native plants (sage & yucca root)

Serves to honor the history of the Kizh people:

Bringing awareness of their presence in their traditional homeland.

Overall theme:

To bring unity and harmony on sacred land which we should honor and maintain as inhabitants.

Definition of Elegance (2025)

Artist: Jorge Parrales
Location: Behind a building at 10917 Main St., visible from Valley Blvd
Community Collab:

El Monte City Council
Local community groups
Property owners

Celebrates El Monte's historic lowrider culture.

Roots dating back to the 1940s.

Inspired by an iconic 1938 Chevrolet Master Deluxe lowrider, or "Redemption".

A significant car in local lowrider community.

It's a definition of elegance as it reflects the "strength, ambition, and creativity" of the community.
A variety of colors and filigree

Color symbolism:

Blue = loyalty and confidence
Gold = compassion, courage, and wisdom
White = hope, purity, goodness, and cleanliness
Ivory = elegance and sophistication

Filigree represents class and status within the culture.

Aims to challenge negative stereotypes associated with lowrider culture by highlighting the artistry and individuality behind the car customizations.

Come Walk with Me (2023)

Artist: Kiara Aileen Machado
Location: Valley Blvd
An anti-hate mural
Artwork is meant to stand against hate and a celebration of the city's diverse and vibrant communities.

A part of LA vs. Hate's "Summer of Solidarity" series.

LA vs. Hate: a community-centered initiative created by LA County Commission on Human Rights or Relations.

Tracks hate incidents and offers confidential support to victims through a hotline by dialing 911.

Inspired from the community workshops, which produced a central metaphor for the piece.

It creates symbolism by comparing El Monte's unity and affection resembles the sweetness of pan dulce and the environment of Valley Mall is the warmth of tamales.

Tells a story through vignettes that features art, commerce, and food.

Reflects the solidarity and cross-cultural contributions of the Mexican, Central American, and Asian communities in El Monte.

A journey through El Monte's community, celebrating the culture, unity, and pride inspired by past and present stories.

She Brought Her People with Her (2021)

Artist: SEM Art Posse Art Collective
Location: Main St., near the corner of Lexington Ave.
Made to honor El Monte's history:

Includes the murals that once existed in the city but were removed and whitewashed in the 1970s.

Beginning of a broader effort to bring more murals back to Main Street area and City of El Monte.

El Monte's 1977 city council ban on murals was lifted, which allowed new public art (like this mural) to be created.

The mural's title exemplifies a celebration of community, heritage, and the collective strength of the people depicted in the mural.

Adelita With a Gun (1976)

Artist: Roberto Gil de Montes, Glugio Micandro ("Gronk")
Location: Used be located on the side wall of the former Red Wing Shoe Store at the Valley Mall
A lone soldadera with her bandolier placed on her torso, while holding her rifle in one arm and a red rose on the other. The inner city is painted under her sombrero.

Adelita (Mexican revolutionary figure) represented feminist progression.

Social change during the Chicano movement.
Women being strong and not passive.
Women, at the time, fought with their men for independence.

Controversy

Because of Adelita, some people were offended by her.

City officials and business owners criticized the mural and considered it as a symbol of an "invasion of another culture".
Critics questioned if "machine gun girl" was considered art.
LA Times wrote a 1977 article of the mural's public reaction.
The store owner had no problem with the mural and even liked it despite the public reaction.

El Monte City Council imposed a temporary ban on public art or new murals.
Public historians claim that the mural was painted over.

Adelita, along with others, were painted over.
The ban created a tense relationship between the city and its artists.

It remains a notable piece in El Monte's mural history.

It highlights the tensions between artistic expression and community standards.

El Monte Legion Stadium Nocturne (2014)

Artist: Vincent Ramos
4 ft x 4ft individual panels; 8 ft x 4ft entire set
Located: Metro Silver Line at the El Monte Station, 3501 Santa Anita Ave.
Part of the El Monte Stations mural set
Historical information on the original Legion Stadium:

It was torn down in 1974
Its legacy includes

Rock & roll
R&B
Country music
Boxing
Roller Derby

Became an integrated environment despite racial segregation and youth culture tensions.

4 panel digitally imprinted mural

Tributed to the now demolished El Monte Legion Stadium.

Serves as a physical reminder of the stadium's history.
Placed adjacent to where the stadium used to located.

Ramos has a personal and familial connection to the stadium:

His mother attended concerts
His father boxed there
His aunt skated roller derby

The title's "Nocturne" refers to the stadium's night-time atmosphere during events.

Dances
Concerts
Spectacles

Panel sequence (left to right):

First = Promoters & early country music stars

Examples:

Art Laboe
Johnny Otis

Second = Country stars

Examples:

Tenessee Ernie Ford
Molly Bee

Third = Rock and R&B musicians, roller derby and boxing imagery

Reference to Ramos' personal and familial connection to the stadium.

Fourth = Larger-than-life showmen, wrestlers, skaters, all-night concert energy

Incorporated a circular shape of a 45 RPM record.

Symbolism:

Music
Movement
Continuity
Bus tires (metaphorically)

Ramos uses mixes art styles for the mural, along with being inspired by Jack Kirby, a comic book artist, who's known for his larger-than-life gestures.

Bold graphic poster-like quality:

A refence to concert posters

Drawn or illustrative elements

Ramos had several constraints while working on this mural:

Permissions for likeliness
Large scale format (once the panels become one set).
The mural's durability for the station's busy environment.

The Steps We Take (2014)

Artist: Eloy Torrez
4 ft x 4ft individual panels; 8 ft x 4ft entire set
Location: J Line, El Monte Station, 3501 Santa Anita Ave, El Monte, CA
Part of the El Monte Stations mural set
4 panel digitally-imprinted mural

Imagery features stairs, silhouettes, abstracted figures in motion.

Overall tone is contemplative rather than purely celebratory.

Color palette and graphic layout are meant to integrate with the station's architecture.

Stairs
Mezzanine walkways
Open quad

A somewhat ambiguous destination

Figures are either moving towards or from something
Left the viewer's interpretation

The station's architecture became metaphorical.

The foundation, passage levels, and stepping feet become music notes, and the beat of the music of voices.

Figures aren't portrait-like

Because of their position, it makes the viewer feel like they're a part of the mural.

It also reflects life's uncertainty.

The viewer travels to places that are unexpected or surprising.

Transforms a bus station into a place of reflecting about movement, human interconnection, and the unnoticed journeys people take.

It contextualizes how commuting isn't just a daily routine, but moments of social and personal encounters and transitions.

It broadens the concept of public art in transportation.

Not about site-specific history, but rather the experience of movement.

Untitled SHEIN Mural #1 (2022)

Artist: Alex Ali Gonzalez
30 ft x 50 ft
Location: Valley Mall, in between Main St and Center Ave
One of five mural sets from the SHEIN x Art Discovery collaboration.

The collab is meant to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Support local communities and Latinx artists during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Besides the artwork, the collab also included:

Pop-up sample sale
Local vendors
Food Trucks

The mural contains vibrant colors, culture, and text.

Description:

The mural contains large, wide, and white script typeface stating "El Monte, California". Along with this, it's surrounded by a stylized yellow sun and geometric papel picatado patterns, and an eyeless woman made of different shapes and skin tones (reflecting the different skin tones of Latinos/Hispanics).

Vibrant color palette = vitality & heritage

Deep reds
Rich blues
Oranges
Warm accents

Shapes and Forms

Reference to traditional motifs or paper cutouts
Creates a sense of movement as the viewer's eye moved around the background.

Because of Gonzalez's Hispanic heritage, it influences his color palettes and symbolic elements that have a resemblance to his art style.

Red roses
Textured backgrounds
Abstract "faces" melted with black and white realism

It makes the viewer feel welcoming and celebrated..

It also makes the mural a visible artwork that reflects Hispanic and Latinos' cultural pride and communal identity.

The mural gave Gonzalez an opportunity to create something new for the community rather than it being decorative.
This mural, along with the others, wanted to make art be:

More accessible
Support surrounding small businesses
Empowering diverse communities

Fusión Monarca (2022)

Artist: Marisabel Bazan
Location: Valley Mall, in between Main St and Center Ave

Next to the previous mural!

One of five mural sets from the SHEIN x Art Discovery collaboration.

The collab is meant to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Support local communities and Latinx artists during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Besides the artwork, the collab also included:

Pop-up sample sale
Local vendors
Food Trucks

Mixed media on concrete

Description:

A white mural covered with butterflies in different sizes and colors. A large monarch butterfly is placed centered stage. Its wings span towards the other smaller butterflies. It's placement and position makes them appear like they're flying around or fluttering their wings.

Monarca (Spanich for "monarch") refers to the monarch butterfly.

Bazan tends to use butterflies to represent transformation, metamorphosis, resilience, and beauty.

It could imply how El Monte has been changing over the years since the ban and how the communities have influenced them.

It could also represent the butterfly migration where monarch butterflies fly to Mexico during the fall and winter months to hibernate.

Fusión (Spanish for "fusion") suggests blending, merging, or synthesis.

It could refer to many things:

Cultures
Identities
Natural and urban elements

Species
Habitats
Community
Nature

For the mural, it could probably represent:

Continuity of the community with the natural world.
Heritage meeting the future.
Butterfly migration as metaphor of human journeys.

It's meant to inspire the viewers to reflect on change, growth, and transportation within themselves or their environment.

Generations (2022)

Artist: Sergio Robleto
Location: Valley Mall, in between Main St and Cleminson St
One of five mural sets from the SHEIN x Art Discovery collaboration.

The collab is meant to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Support local communities and Latinx artists during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Besides the artwork, the collab also included:

Pop-up sample sale
Local vendors
Food Trucks

Features members of a mariachi family that spans 4 generations.

Focuses on tradition, family, and music.
Each musician is playing with instruments.

Each dressed in traditional mariachi regalia.
They're using instruments that's commonly used in mariachi.

Art style is representative and accessible.

Brings recognizable cultural figures into public setting with a celebratory atmosphere.

Reflects Robleto's tendency to intertwine cultural or community rooted narratives in public art.

It demonstrates themes of intergenerational legacy, community roots, cultural continuity.

Based on the mural's title and Robleto depicting imagery associated with community, heritage, and identity.

Because of the mural ban and Robleto's practice, it might've become an effort to restore public art associated with marginalized communities.

Especially El Monte's mural ban.

Untitled SHEIN Mural #4 (2022)

Artist: Teddy Kelly
Location: Valley Mall, in between Main St and El Monte Ave
One of five mural sets from the SHEIN x Art Discovery collaboration.

The collab is meant to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Support local communities and Latinx artists during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Besides the artwork, the collab also included:

Pop-up sample sale
Local vendors
Food Trucks

Mural on concrete

Description:

A white mural covered with vibrant and large abstract shapes and faceless women. The women are depicted in different skin tones to reflect the diversity within the Latino and Hispanic community. These women are surrounded by abstract leaf shapes and simple geometric shapes.

Uses vibrant and saturated colors

This color palette is associated with Kelly's art style where he would use bright colors in his artwork.

Geometric and abstract form

The mural uses strong shapes, clean and sharp edges.
These shapes are meant to be simplified or possibly.
Most likely a reference to the shapes Kelly would use for his art.

Wide scale

Because of its large size, it allows viewers to interact with the mural.

Cultural references

The mural most likely integrates elements or shapes associated with Latinx culture.

Public engagement

Because of the campaign, the mural becomes part of the "larger-than-life" art installation and one of the campaign's many backdrops.

Untitled SHEIN Mural #5 (2022)

Artist: Yai (or YAIICECREAM on social media)
Location: Valley Mall, in between Main St and Monterey Ave
One of five mural sets from the SHEIN x Art Discovery collaboration.

The collab is meant to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Support local communities and Latinx artists during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Besides the artwork, the collab also included:

Pop-up sample sale
Local vendors
Food Trucks

Mural on concrete

Description:

A bright pink background covered with a playful collage of colorful, sticker-like illustrations and slogans.

It includes:

A green gecko and several cacti
A palm tree labeled "La Palma"
A car driving under a sunset labeled "El Monte"
A smiling sun with the "Have a nice day" label
A taco dog (a dachshund inside a taco shell)
Bright conchas with the phrase "Don't be selfconchas"
A red rose surrounded by "Flower in bloom/ Can I call you Rose? 'Cause you are jet like a flower in bloom"
A yellow oval reading "Agri-culture 1933"
Other text bubbles with phrases like "See you tamale"

The illustrations are drawn within a round or patched border.

It resembles those found in hand sown vest badges.

The artist's social media tag and the campaign's QR code is placed Near the bottom of the mural.

The mural uses bright, nostalgic pop-art aesthetic.

It mixes humor with Mexican-American cultural references and affirming messages.

Examples:

Conchas
Tamales
Cacti
Vibrant color palettes

The sticker-like designs represents individuality, self-expression, and pride in cultural identity.

The symbols signifies either a cultural pride or personal story.

The mural feels playful, approachable, and community-oriented.

It's intentional because it's meant to celebrate Hispanic heritage in a modern, youthful way.

It transforms a public wall into a conversation about joy, representation, and the beauty of everyday culture.

Spiritt Family Center Mural (2025)

Artist: Jawsh-er (aka Jawsh3r on social media)
Location: SPIRITT Family Center, Tyler Ave and Rush St
Mural on concrete wall

Description:

The mural depicts a vibrant and panoramic scenery that spans the building's façade.
The left side of the mural displays blooming pink cherry blossoms and a snow capped mountain under a clear blue sky.

It makes the scenery feel calm and renewal.

The center of the mural has the spring landscape transition into green hills, forests, and a blue lake or river.

This landscape connects with the mountains in the background.

A gray stone structure that displays "Welcome to South El Monte" nestled within the valley.

The structure resembles those that's commonly seen with welcoming signs of each cities.

The right side of the mural transitions again into a warmer color palette and shows more mountains, and a man holding several reeds of grain surrounded by flowers and a large hummingbird.

The imagery probably represents growth, hope, and community.

Because of the mural's imagery, it might suggest a journey through nature, heritage, and peace.

It also makes the viewer's eye move from side to side, which suggests time movement or cultural landscapes.

The nature scenery references the landscape of the San Gabriel Valley or the homeland of immigrant or indigenous ancestry.
The mural's blue and orange color scheme possibly could represent either unity by diversity or the day's sunrise to sunset journey.

It could suggest continuity, growth, and renewal.

Since the mural includes architecture and human figures, it possibly connects the landscape with community and memory.

In a way, it connects natural beauty to a person's lived experience.

Since the mural is painted on SPIRITT, it could also suggest that the mural's message of healing and unity.

Possibly reflecting the same mission and values as SPIRITT.

Untitled Firefighter Tribute Mural (2025)

Artist: Sebastián Velazquez (aka "VelaArt" on social media)
Location: Drive thru wall on Tom's Burgers, 1947 Santa Anita Ave
Mural on concrete and brick wall

Description:

Left side of the mural depicts three firefighters dressed in their full gear with bright flames and smoke behind them.
The right side also depicts the mascot of Tom's Burgers, dressed as a firefighter, holding a fire extinguisher to put out the flames.
Velazquez's social media tag and the mural's year of completion is placed just below the mascot's feet.

Text dedication:

"Thank You Firefighters, Volunteers, & First Responders!"
"Remembering The Palisades & Eaton Canyon Fires"

Most likely referring to the Palisades and Eaton Wildfires that happened earlier this year.

The mural mixes illustration and realism to show gratitude and resilience

The community thanking first responders for putting out the fires.
First responders demonstrating resilience by controlling the fires and helping or saving people and animals from the fires.

The flames and the firefighters' calm expressions demonstrates the firefighters' courage when they facing the fires.

Chinese Traditional Music and Dance (2021)

Artist: Laishan Ito
Location: Corner on Ramona Blvd and E Valley Blvd
Artwork for City of El Monte

One of many utility box art in El Monte.
Part of the El Monte Art in Public Places Program to support outdoor artwork to benefit the community.

Vinyl wrap on utility box

Description:

The wrap displays lion dance, a pipa (Chinese lute), red lanterns, firecrackers, opera mask styling, and chrysanthemums.

The imagery references the themes in traditional Chinese music, dance, and theatre.

It uses bright and bold colors and stylized digital illustrations to make the box visible and vibrant within the busy intersection.

The design style resembles Ito's background in graphic design and illustration.

It also uses bold shapes, colors, and typography that was influenced by nature and graphic expressions.

The wrap's imagery demonstrates cultural recognition and neighborhood identity.

Bringing visibility to Chinese cultural heritage in a public place.

Since it's a part of El Monte's Public Art Program, the wrap beautifies the intersection, reduces the utility box's decay, and engages viewers' attention towards its vibrant imagery.
Ito's purpose for the wrap is to continue her journey from digital illustrator to public commissions for utility boxes in the suburbs of Los Angeles.
Unlike other utility box art where the artists paint direct on it, the utility boxes are covered in a vinyl wraps for a several reasons.

Durability
Weather and/or graffiti resistant.
Faster installation than a full painting.
Easier reproduction of graphic designs and illustrations.

East of East (2016)

Artist: Fernando Corona and Alonso Delgadillo
Location: Brick wall in between Central Ave and Cogswell Rd
Mural on brick wall

Description:

The mural stretches through a low wall and mixes human figures with a stylized and vibrant background.
The foreground shows a family with expressive gestures and painted with a sense of warmth and community.

They have their arms outstretched and joyful faces.
Most likely depicts a Mexican family.

The background is depicted using bold and geometric shapes and layered hills using warm or desert-like colors to resemble a desert or valley landscape.

Yellow
Orange
Teal
Purple
Blue

On both sides of the family, there's a large red dinosaur-like creature and other surrealistic imagery.
The upper part of the mural has several patterns and motifs which creates rhythm that unifies the mural.

This mural is part of South El Monte Art Posse's (SEMAP) drive to the history recovery work of lost murals in El Monte.

Most probably an early example of public murals being re-introduced in El Monte.

The mural most likely celebrates community, unity, and imagination.

This is associated with the unity that's commonly seen with my Hispanic and Latino families.

The background's vibrant colors and abstract shapes which resembles a simplified version of the San Gabriel Valley.

It's idealistic appearance feels optimistic and dreamy.

Because of the mural's naturalism and abstraction, it connects personal and the landscape.

It allows the mural to ground itself using place and emotions.

Native Americans (2021)

Artist: Laishan Ito
Location: Corner of Peck Rd and Valley Blvd, in front of Gay's Lion Farm statue
Artwork for City of El Monte

One of many utility box art in El Monte.
Part of the El Monte Art in Public Places Program to support outdoor artwork to benefit the community.

Vinyl wrap on utility box

Description:

One panel shows an indigenous man and woman dressed in their traditional regalia which includes feather headdresses, beadwork, and patterned textiles.
Behind the figures, it depicts mountains, plains, and sky gradients.

It resembles the landscape of Southwestern and Californian landscape.

The background includes geometric shapes and designs that resemble the designs seen on Native American textile and pottery.

Zigzags
Diamonds
Sun shapes

The vinyl's imagery most likely honors the Tongva (Gabrieleños) and Kizh (Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians) tribes that inhabited the land of El Monte.

It serves as a visual acknowledgement of these tribes.
It reflects a respectful celebration rather than a stereotypical caricature.

Transforming a utility box into an educational purpose.
Allows the viewer to acknowledge pre-colonial history.

The vinyl wrap juxtaposes the lion statue of Gay's Lion Farm.

It creates a subtle historical layering in between both artworks.

The statue symbolizes El Monte's early 20th century entertainment history.
The wrap symbolizes El Monte's much older history of indigenous tribes.

The wrap, along with the "Kizh Spirit in the Sky" mural, becomes an example where it wants to integrate indigenous acknowledgement in El Monte.
Ito's purpose for the wrap is to continue her journey from digital illustrator to public commissions for utility boxes in the suburbs of Los Angeles.
Unlike other utility box art where the artists paint direct on it, the utility boxes are covered in a vinyl wraps for a several reasons.

Durability
Weather and/or graffiti resistant
Faster installation than a full painting
Easier reproduction of graphic designs and illustrations

From Struggles to Success (2021)

Artist: Laishan Ito
Location: El Monte Court House, Valley Blvd and Johnson Ave
Artwork for City of El Monte

One of many utility box art in El Monte.
Part of the El Monte Art in Public Places Program to support outdoor artwork to benefit the community.

Historical events:

El Monte Berry Strike of 1933

Mexican and Japanese immigrant laborers worked and lived in horrible conditions in El Monte's strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry fields.
Faced discrimination and segregation while being unfairly paid.
The 1933 strike led to the fight for labor rights which united immigrant workers to demand fair treatment and pay.
Because of segregation, Mexican families continued the struggle for educational equality for their kids.

El Monte Thai Garment Workers Case (1995)

It was discovered that Thai immigrants were being held captive and forced to work in hidden sweatshop at an apartment complex in El Monte.
After one of the women escaped, the workers were rescued in 1995 which lead to more than 70 Thai laborers.
One of the freed workers soon opened their own Thai restaurant.

Vinyl wrap on utility box

Description:

The vinyl wrap contains four panels with different colorful imagery

Panel #1 - A young woman dressed in a navy blue graduation cap and gown and is grasping her diploma. A yellow to orange gradient halo glorifies her head as she looks to the side and smiling.
Panel #2 - Several rows of green crops with farmworkers bending down, a tractor placed behind them, and a mountain background. The foreground contains a pair of hands holding a handful of ripe and red strawberries.
Panel #3 - A man, dressed a grey business suit, stands confident, smiling and with an outstretched arm to welcome the viewer. Behind the man is a door with a hanging sign that reads "OPEN" for his small business.
Panel #4 - A dress from a mannequin, a sewing machine, scissors and fabric. Possibly indicating that the panel is depicting inside a boutique or a sewing company

Unlike other artworks, this vinyl wrap depicts two historic El Monte historical events which shows those who transformed hardship into opportunity.

Panel #1 and #2 demonstrates this by using the strawberry fields, hands holding berries, and a graduate in cap and gown which represents progress through education.
Panel #3 and #4 also demonstrates this by using the proud Thai man and sewing materials to represent regained dignity and self sufficiency.

Color Symbolism:

Blue and orange

Blue skies = education
Orange sunsets = vitality

Green fields and red strawberries

Connects El Monte's agricultural history

Contrasting locations

Indoor shop vs outdoors farms

Shows how work has changed over time but maintains its central role of identity.

Graduate and business owner

Visually demonstrates the "From Struggles to Success"

The wrap conveys a visual storytelling that perfectly demonstrates how a community can find opportunities and succeed from their hardships.

Mexican Traditional Music and Dance (2021)

Artist: Laishan Ito
Location: Corner of Santa Anita Ave and Valley Blvd, El Monte
Artwork for City of El Monte

One of many utility box art in El Monte.
Part of the El Monte Art in Public Places Program to support outdoor artwork to benefit the community.

Vinyl wrap on utility box

Description

Front panels:

A female folkórico dancer and a male mariachi are dancing together.

The woman is twirling her wide and layered skirt that protrudes outward to display several different colors, such as yellow, orange, red, white, and black. Her white blouse is decorated with bright red accents, and her hair is tied back with a red and yellow ribbons.
The man is dressed in traditional black with gold embroider charro suit with a bright red bowtie and large sombrero.

Surrounding them, there's several floral motifs and decorative vines that makes the wrap feel festive.

Purple and yellow flowers are scattered above the couple.
Fully bloomed red roses are placed near their feet, which represents romance and passion.
The background includes stylized patterns that resembles those seen in Mexican folk art.

Turquoise swirls
Geometric accents

Side panels:

A trumpet player, dressed in full mariachi attire and a sombrero, takes up most of the panel's space.

He's expressive and intent with his cheeks puffing as he plays his trumpet.
More red roses appear below the trumpet player.

Standing besides the trumpet player, a large guitar stands upright.

The guitar uses soft tan tones with dark brown strings, and is decorated with detailed star patterns around the guitar's sound hole.

The background displays several silhouettes of other mariachi musicians that are playing guitars or violins.

It transitions into a colorful rainbow stripes where they resemble the colorful stripes of a traditional serape.
Within the stripes, the bright blue and green leaf motifs make this part of the panel feel energetic and rhythmic.

The vinyl wrap celebrates Mexican folkloric culture, and acknowledges El Monte's rich Latino heritage.

It uses color, rhythm, and motion to show the wrap's story of music, dance, and joy.
The wrap's color palette, floral accents, and gradient stripes are inspired by traditional Mexican textiles

Warm golds
Fiery reds
Rich oranges
Magentas
Emerald greens
Turquoise
Rich blacks

The vinyl wrap uses flat, digital illustration style that works well with vinyl wrap printing.

Clean lines
Bold shapes
Minimal shading

Its imagery is completely stylized but it's recognizable.

It combines cultural realism with contemporary designs.

Phase 3: Analysis

Representation of Diversity - El Monte's most recent public acknowledges and honors El Monte's ethnically diverse population and cultures. It shows artwork that depicts Native Americans, Latinos or Hispanics, Asians, men, and women.
Historical Events - Some of El Monte's public artwork honors old buildings or public areas that are no longer around. It also honors minor historical events that most residents of El Monte probably aren't aware of.
Reintroducing Public Art - Unlike its neighboring cities, El Monte has a small number of public art because of the 1977 ban on new murals and public art. After 2020 or 2021, local artists and the City of El Monte are slowly reintroducing murals and public art into the city to reference its history and diverse population.

Phase 4: Proposal

I really appreciate the somewhat limited artwork that's available around El Monte and South El Monte. I really like how artists and the city are reintroducing new artwork in the community and resembles those found in neighboring cities. The artists took so many things into consideration when planning for their artworks and how they reflect El Monte's diverse population. I especially liked the series of utility box art by Laishan Ito, since she creates artwork that honors and celebrates different cultures, communities, and major/minor historical events. However, I feel like El Monte should have more artwork outside of its Valley Mall and Valley Blvd. There are so many buildings, corridors, bike and river paths, and parks that could be used to display and install new artwork. If this were to happen, artists could create artwork that reflects and connects the community. Maybe artwork that highlights immigration or immigrant families, local wildlife and rivers, more women, African American, or LGBTQ+ representation. I feel like new artwork would make El Monte a meaningful and community-rooted art where it shouldn't only beautify it but rather feel like it belongs.

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Whose City? Public Art, Power, and Representation in the Urban Landscape

El Monte Public Art - Rosalia R.