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A Valley In Time
Erica Friend
Progress shot of the mural being painted courtesy of Levi Ponce.
"A Valley In Time" - By Erica Friend (@insomniart).
The latest mural on San Fernando Road is one of the largest public commissions in Los Angeles. Over 3 stories tall and spanning almost 300 feet the mural was completed over three weeks with a team of 7 artists. The project was managed by 11:11 Projects and funded by Councilwoman Monica Rodreiguez. The wall is at Roxford and San Fernando Road in Sylmar, CA (15675 Roxford St, Sylmar, CA 91342).
Says Councilwoman Rodriguez, "(the mural) transforms a highly visible space from eyesore and blight to a celebrated art piece that captures the uniqueness of Sylmar from the eyes of local muralist, Erica Friend."
The art project began the first week of March with treatment of the wall prior to painting. The mural was then painted over the following 3 weeks.
The mural features local wildlife, including Zeuz, a rescued blind owl that resides at the Sylmar Wiildlife Center. Also endangered parrots, monarchs, hawks, horses, and the California Bear - see if you can find him! There are nods to the original inhabitants of this land as well as history of orchards, infrastructure, and what was once the largest stash of olives this side of the Mississippi. Hang tight and hang glide in the Sylmar Hills before appreciating California skies. Watch a valley in time go by in this wonderful mural tucked liked a hidden gem in the north corner of Los Angeles.
This project would not be possible if not for the efforts of Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, who paved the road by bringing together the artists, businesses, and city organizations involved.
A supporting team of artists in the photo below:
Artist
Kristy Sandoval
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Artist
Sarah Ponce
"I painted mostly schools in unreached places. Everyone deserves color and beauty."
Sarah lives in the San Fernando Valley and works to bring art to the people who need it most. Fluent in Spanish with a BA in Fine Art and a Masters in Education, she's spent years working as a teacher and illustrator in San Francisco. Then, after illustrating five childrens books, she left for Africa to spend a year working with orphans and AIDS affected youth. She painted dozens of murals with children living in low-resource locations in Kenya, Mexico, Guatemala, Thailand, and across the United States. She worked with organizations like Compass 31, Casa Builders, and Empowering Lives International. Her recent work includes murals for genetics company 23andME, the KIPP Foundation, and SpraTX. Most of her work is outside the United States in Africa, Asia, and Central America.
The mural "Dreams" was part of a four-day workshop held at Pacoima Charter Elementary. It consisted of over 30 children learning the basics in the classroom the first two days, and then applying their new skills on the mural wall the rest of the week. It features a girl learning from a book in a dream-like world based on the subjects of Science Technology Engineering Art and Math -- S.T.E.A.M. - the schools teaching model. Levi Ponce co-designed the mural and painted the portrait of a 3rd grade student that attends the school.
Distrito 29, Guatemala City, Guatemala.
Eldoret, Kenya.
"Dreams" 24' x 34' painted with acrylics. Located at Pacoima Charter Elementary: 11016 Norris Ave, Pacoima, CA.
Pictured is Sarah on the lift, and Juan Reyes, Levi Ponce, Teresa Thain and Mr T.
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Jaime Zacarias (GERMS)
"I'm really impatient when I paint... I've got to layer it quick."
South Los Angeles native Jaime Zacarias aka GERMS is seemingly infected with an innate ability to channel the spirits of our surrealist predecessors, slapping our eyeballs with his grotesque yet amusing iconography and ameoba like characters while simultaneously referencing post-Chicano culture and imagery. He is known for cleverly stylized Luchador masks given life by their protruding tentacles, surrounded by floating amoebas that playfully flirt with their viewers' imaginations.
Says GERMS, "I find myself mesmerized by the seemingly infinite details and borderline infectious behaviors of each character I create, while striving to transform and challenge the traditional interpretations of the icons we all know so well." The viewer is drawn into a complex layering of cultural references; comfortable and familiar, often times playful and childlike imagery, which may, however, mask the dark and sinister - but which is imbued with an innocent sense of "anything is possible" in the World of GERMS.
GERMS most recent body of work is titled "Fasho," a term which affirms an unspoken agreement between the artist and the viewers of his work to look at the familiar as filtered through the mind of GERMS and see something never before seen."Fasho," also meaning "for sure," is a play on words - giving the artist total freedom to use the space as a playground.
1111 A Creative Collective
Video and time-lapse photography of Germs' mural in Pacoima, CA. 30 feet tall.
Photo by Liz Ohanesian, KCET
"Mutimtu Pakovit" - A woman from Pacoima. Progress shot of the mural courtesy of @niknakfilms.
“Rushing Waters” is the most significant public art project in the San Fernando Valley since 1978. At almost 10,000 square feet is the largest above-ground mural in North LA and will change the face of the area by covering up blight and graffiti with an artistic history lesson.
Says Councilwoman Rodriguez, "I believe that when this mural is finished it will be an icon of Los Angeles to be viewed in the same light as the Pope of Broadway, América Tropical, and We Are Not a Minority."
The art project initiates November, 2019 & will be completed on the 22nd of November at the intersection of San Fernando Road and the 118 freeway. Unveiling will be November 25th at 10am.
"Located in the heart of Pacoima as the gateway for San Fernando, Sylmar, and Lake View Terrace. The mural itself will depict the landscape of these areas and have a 25-foot-tall woman of the local the Tataviam village depicted at its center. Included are Hansen Dam, The Golf Course, Whiteman Airport, Local freeways, Samar Aqueduct, San Gabriel Mountains, LA River, and more" said Levi Ponce (@leviponce), the director on the project.
This mural brings together the full spectrum of our community with a team of mural and graffiti artists painting the mural over three weeks, with assistance from Los Angeles Native American Commission, Walt Disney Imagineering designers, local business, and local community leaders to produce the latest mural in Pacoima.
This project would not be possible if not for the efforts of Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, who paved the road by bringing together the artists, businesses, and city organizations involved.
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The 2018 Mural Mile Map!
Many thanks to Juan Pablo Reyes of JP Murals for the information!
Short Film
West Coast Boogie
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"Being human, human being" 22' x 50' painted with acrylics in (Kadikoy) Istanbul, Turkey.
Raised in the Northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California, Kristy Sandoval is a first generation xicana with family and background in Los Angeles, Tijuana, Mexicali and San Diego. While attending the Academy of Art Univeristy in San Francisco formal art training was learned, and the northern part of California explored. Since 2008 kSan has painted more than 30 public art murals. Her work focuses on human rights, world affairs from an environmental stand point, and womyn empowerment. As an advocate for arts education kSan has run mural design workshops for all age groups and skill levels in underserved communities. kSan has also played a vital role in the development of Mural Mile in Pacoima, CA. by creating murals and being on the ground floor of MM's launch. She is the founder of HOOD Sisters and she also traveled to Turkey in 2015 in an artist exchange that included work with refugees via the American Embassy, together they painted a mural of Malala for their ASAM center. In 2016, her work was recognized by CSUN's Gender and Woman's Studies with their Phenomenal Woman Award. Today, she continues to expand with public art projects across the globe.
She has an upcoming solo show at the Analigital Gallery in San Fernando, about her canvas work, Kristy says:
"I paint because I need to.…
There’s a calm that comes through the acrylics. I find a sense of clarity in the stripes that appear, in the steadiness of straight lines carried across the canvas. The paint drips as needed, and the colors blended freely. I see balance and beauty in the imperfections, and keep going until it feels like enough. I step back and realize the blends and patterns somehow resemble a sarape. This makes me smile and brings warmth into my space. It feels like home.
Although some things remain unclear, I continue to search. Through spirituality in all its forms—whether a cool breeze under a tree in Cambodia, a fortune-telling session in a Turkish coffee shop, or the simple coincidences that mean more—I take in the experiences that cross my path and trust the timing in my life.
And so, I set intentions. These paintings are the chaos and tranquility that encompass me—the passion and vulnerability that reveal my truth.
Art heals."
-kSan
Pacoima Charter Elementary
Artist
GERMS with his work.
Artist
Manny Valezquez
"3-Day Dia de los Muertos event at Pacoima City Hall, art curated by Manny"
Manny Velazquez has painted in Los Angeles since the 1970's and continues to paint today. He began his career with an at-risk youth art program hosted in Pacoima through a grant secured by a Cal-State Northridge University organization. Manny says when they came to town he "tried out" as an artist by taking a drawing test and was immediately given membership because of his talent. He painted several murals along with peers for an entire summer and was paid for it - Manny was hooked on art.
In 1984 Pedro pelayo and he designed a mural to be painted at USC's Exposition Park by LA gangmembers. The mural, one of three in total (by different artists), was sponsored by the Olympic Organizing Comittee.
Manny's latest mural is on Van Nuys Blvd and Glenoaks. It was designed and painted by GRYD volunteers adn features various community members.
Stop by Pacoima City Hall on October 29, 30 and 31 for the only 3-day DDLM evet in Los Angeles. Hosted by Manny! Check out the video from last year below.
Manny in front of his mural.
GRYD youth.
"El Nido Family Centers Mural" 20' x 30' painted with acrylics. Located at Pacoima Community Center on Glenoaks Blvd and Van Nuys Blvd, Pacoima, CA. Designed and Painted by Youth from the GRYD Program.
Check out last year's Dia de los Muertos on TV!
Manny with the star of La Bamba Lou Dimaond Phillips at Pacoima Middle School.
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Kristy's signature serape on architecture.
"These paintings are the chaos and tranquility that encompass me..."
"Assada Shakur" 15' x 45' located at 13161 Van Nuys Blvd on Mural Mile in Pacoima, CA.
Kristy in front of her mural at Fox park in San Fernando, CA.
"Malala" painted in Turkey with Syrian refugees at their ASAM center, summer 2015.
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Artist
Juan Reyes
"I don't represent no colors, I represent my sisters and brothers..."
Juan in front of his graffiti piece.
Juan working with Kent Twitchell.
Juan reyes was born in Mexico and immigrated to the United States at a young age. Finding a community in The San Fernando Gardens, also known as the Pacoima Housing Projects, he grew up the oldest son in a family of 6. After years of teenaged turmoil and violence (including a gun wound), he has overcome adversity using his hands, his brushes, and his heart.
In high school Juan pursued his interest in the arts into a world beyond gangs and vandalism. Since then, he has won numerous contests, worked alongside some of Los Angeles' premier artists, and produced murals from Woodlake, CA to South Central Los Angeles. He employs his peers while painting in schools and in communities, he is a living example of positivity overcoming hardship and he is leading the way for coming generations. "I don't represent no colors/ I represent my sisters and brothers" says Juan.
Attending Valley College and working is a dream that doesn't always come true for immigrants, but after a long struggle aided by social workers, fellow artists and community members like Isabel Rojas-Williams, he has a legal status that allows for him to work and attend college.
The future has no limit for Juan Reyes. Mural Mile is thankful for your contributions and we look forward to all you have to give to the world, Juan!
Councilman Curren D. Price Jr, from District 9 South central Los Angeles came down to show his love for Juan beautifying the neighborhood.
Juan's canvas work 2016. May the depicted rest in peace.
