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

Phase 1: The Site      The site of the artwork that I chose is very close to home and it represents a big part of my family. It is a representation of our Mexican and Filipino community and the United Farm Workers. I chose this site because it is from a surrounding small town, seven miles from my hometown. My hometown is Earlimart, CA  and this mural is from Delano, CA, where many may know for its agriculture industry and the fieldworker movement. I proudly come from an immigrant family and this mural represents how hard working, family-oriented, and self-driven this community is. It represents what our families had to endured to give us a better life and more opportunities.  Phase 2: Field Work      This bright and colorful mural of Filipino labor leader Larry Itliong is located at Morningside Elementary School in Delano, CA painted by artist Eliseo Art Silva. Silva stated “Larry Itliong is the first Filipino American to get a seat at the table. ...

Phase #1: Cite  For my cite, I chose to focus on Playas de Tijuana, it is located about 5 minutes away from the international U.S.-Mexico border. This neighborhood has a beach which is neighbors to Imperial Beach, CA. I have focused on this neighborhood in previous assignments and chose to work on this one again because it is where I grew up for most of my life. My earliest memories are from walking on that beach and going to the park with my family. Art is very encouraged and shown in this area, and for as long as I can remember it has been around. After a while of not visiting, I spent this summer going back and seeing some family, it has brough back a lot of memories and  I remembered how special this place was to me.  Phase #2: Field Work  #1:  Project: Common Roots. Location: Andador 12, Playas de Tijuana Pier. Artist: Libre (Alfredo Libre Gutierrez) and Panca +20 other young artists and locals .   Theme: Recycling, Environmental Sustainability....

Historic Filipinotown is an unassuming neighborhood that stretches from the outskirts of the rustle and scramble of downtown LA to the beginnings of Echo Park. It is a community that is lively, vibrant, but often driven through. The first thing one typically hears when speaking on Filipino Town is ,"Where is that again?" or " I've never hear of that place" despite the large sign that welcomes drivers into fillipino town upon entering from downtown (See figure A). This signage is named "Talang Gabay: Our Guiding Star" and is a multilane sign that stretches over 30 feet tall and spans over 82 feet wide. This Signage was erected in 2022 and is a staunch reminder of the often overlooked history of Filipino Americans in Los Angeles. The area was dubbed “Historic Filipinotown” in 2002 and later the City of Los Angeles commissioned artists Eliseo Art Silva and Celestino Geronimo Jr. to create a sign to commemorate an area with little cultural visibility other...

Long Beach Walls Public Art  By Yamilet Diaz  Location: I chose this area, which is Long Beach, because it is an area that I'm often in close proximity to due to my job. I love to drive around some of the murals on my way home from work. Although I like to often admire the long beach walls, I actually don't know much about them, and wanted to know more about them and the thought process of these talented artists. This project gave me the opportunity to learn about the inspiration, cultural significance, and messages behind the artwork while gaining a deeper appreciation for how public art contributes to the identity of the city. Since I spend so much time in Long Beach, I wanted to explore the murals that are part of my everyday surroundings and better understand the role they play in bringing the community together.   1. Field Work  Name: The Tree of Life 2024 Location:  375 The Promenade N. Long Beach, CA Artist: Andrea Wan Reason for artwork: Andrea Wan said ...