Downey Public Street Art - Evieny Isidro


The Site:

I decided to look at artwork in my city Downey. In Downtown Downey it is a very vibrant place that has a lot of stores and restaurants and is always busy. With public street art surrounding its buildings. The city Downey was founded by John Gately Downey an Irish Immigrant who was the youngest first foreign governor of California. Downey was also home to aerospace and contributed to aviation and space exploration. 


The Art Work:

             

Work #1 - Welcome to Downtown Downey
by Rafael Reyes

This art mural made by Rafael Reyes is made like a postcard to welcome people into our city. In the art what is being represented is Downey's culture. Which includes The Kaufmann Building, The Rives Mansion, the city's flag, an Apollo spacecraft rocket, Casa de Parley Johnson, and Downey Grammar School arch. His brother Myron Reyes had also assisted in making the mural he manages the business operations and project development. The mayor really liked the art worked and that it was fitting for the city and its city marking of 70 years. 




Work #2 - A Different Perspective
by Jane Dedecker

This art stature was proposed to be installed in Downey and commissioned from the National Sculptor's Guild. It is a bronze stature of a young man doing a hand stand. The meaning of it is to take a step back and look from a different perspective.




Work #3 - My Heart Is In Your Hands
by Jane Dedecker

This art piece was commissioned by the city from The National Sculptor's Guild. The art peice shows two people holding hands in the shape of a heart and leaning back from each other. It was purposed to be in Downey because they thought of how it could show unity, love, and trust in the community. 




Work #4 - Unnamed
by Bumblebee

The art work showcases a young girl cutting her hair. It is outside a hair salon business and was installed by Bumblebee who grew up in the city. The artist art is influenced by nostalgia. He has been doing street art since he was younger and continued to do so around the city.



Critical Analysis:
A lot of the art in Downey is represented by a lot of different things for example the statures that were installed were proposed because it brought more fun and showed how the city is united. Some of the histories that is being centered is how Downey was founded and it's important history. The people who funds and decides the art in Downey is the Community Development Department. Then is selected and voted by The Downey City Council. Some of the art was funded by Non-Profits like Stay Arts. 



Proposal:

My proposal is to have more art made by the people living in Downey. I think we can also add more work that is tied to its big people of color population. I think since the city was founded by an Irish Immigrant we can have more art work around immigrants who makes 32.2% of Downey population. 75.3% of Downey is also Hispanic. I think we should have art work tied to this. So we can see more of their perspective. I believe that this is more important than ever to hear these voices with the rise of ICE since we have seen their voices be told much in the art surrounding Downey. 







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