Juan Aguilar - Boyle Heights

 

The Site - Boyle Heights

 I was born and raised in Boyle Heights. Being a member of this community I was always exposed to different kinds of art ranging from murals and graffiti to things like literature. Boyle Heights is a very diverse location and community that takes great pride in its history and its people. There are so many murals and paintings that celebrate not only historical figures but events and community figures as well. There is a long history in this community, a history of pride, struggle, activism, and perseverance. The art that is displayed in Boyle Heights is often a call to the areas sense of pride and people. Art is one of the ways this community and its people show they are proud of where they come from and where they live. As I have lived here my entire life, I know some of the individuals in the community and asked some of them some questions about the art present.

Field Work

El Corrido de Boyle Heights

East Los Streetscapers (David Botello, Wayne Healy, George Yepes) - 1983

Public Mural, 17' X 80', Acrylic

Location: 245 N. Soto St, Los Angeles, CA 90033

El Corrido de Boyle Heights is a mural located on the corner of Cezar Chavez Avenue and Soto Street. This mural serves as a celebration and honoring of Mexican American culture as well as community strength and heritage regarding the people in the area. This mural is supposed to create a sense of pride and community strength. Featured in the composition are musicians, families, and newlyweds, which further depicts the theme of community and family. Since this mural is located in a highly populated area, it is easy for new people to learn and understand what this mural is about. In recent years though, it has begun being covered by graffiti in the area. Many people have been calling for the removal of the graffiti but so far nothing has happened.

Fernando Mania Forever

Robert Vargas - 2024

Public Mural, 50' X 70', Three Panel Acrylic

Location: 1781 E. First St, Los Angeles, CA 90033

Fernando Mania Forever is a mural that was being painted to honor Dodger legend, Fernando Valenzuela while he was still alive. Unfortunately, Valenzuela passed away while the mural was being completed and did not get to see the complete composition. Valenzuela played with the dodgers team from 1980 to 1990. This mural stands as a reminder of what he accomplished and what can be accomplished. This mural is also motivation for anyone that dreams or has big goals for themselves, Valenzuela is a reminder of what hard work and perseverance can accomplish. As a part of Boyle Heights, this mural can motivate and remind future generations of what is possible.

Hazard Graffiti

Community Members - 2026

Graffiti, 10' X 20', Acrylic Spray Paint

Location: 2528 Alcazar St, Los Angeles, CA 90033

This Graffiti lettering spells out "Peligro", which means danger in Spanish. This is a tag that is used by the gang known as "Hazard" that reside near or in close proximity to Hazard Park. This is one of the many tags used by the gang in the area. This is one of the biggest and most recent forms of graffiti used by the individuals in the area. Tags like these are supposed to mark territory and make gang presence known. While completing my field work, I asked some of the community members I knew how they felt about the graffiti and its place in our community. I asked several of my neighbors how they felt about this kind of graffiti and I got varied responses. Some feel that this graffiti should not exist in their neighborhoods and contributes to the danger and crime that is present in the area. Others have made their peace with it since they have experienced it for years and feel it will continue to happen.

Critical Analysis

Taking the art and community in as a whole, most of what is represented in the compositions and art is either the people that exist in the community or the ideals and values of the community. As Boyle Heights is a heavily Latino populated area, most of the work represents the Latino Community. They represent the pride, struggle, perseverance, work ethic, sacrifice, and love that is present in the Latino Community. The mural work is more of what represents people and values, the graffiti represents a smaller set of ideals and values. The graffiti is also different in purpose and intention. While the murals are supposed to foster pride and love, the graffiti is used more as a way to control and claim the area. Mural works are also funded by the county, while graffiti is privately funded by artists.

Proposal

Having conducted more research regarding my neighborhood, I enjoy the fact that there is so much pride present in my community. The art represents the perspective, values, and ideals present in my area. This makes me feel good about my area and community. One of the things I dislike would be the amount of danger that accompanies the graffiti artwork present in the area. Not only is their gang related art in the area, but the frequency and volume of it is remarkable. One of the actions that I might propose first of all, would be restoring murals covered by graffiti. There are many important and valuable murals that are disappearing due to graffiti. Another step I might suggest is increasing the frequency of graffiti clean up in certain neighborhoods that are affected at a higher rate. Commissioning more murals that encompass evolving and current community values and ideals might also be a good idea for members of the area.