Souvenirs from The Great Wall of Los Angeles
The Great Wall of Los Angeles is a mural painted on the concrete sides of the Tujunga Wash in the San Fernando Valley. It was created by Judith F. Baca and over 400 community youth and artists between 1974 and 1984. The mural stretches 13 feet high and 2,754 feet long, making it one of the longest murals in the world.
The painting unravels chronologically and depicts the history of California from prehistoric times to the 1950s. Each section took a year to complete and was reviewed by a committee of poets, musicians, writers, and community members to gather a holistic point of view.
The wall focuses on the perspective of marginalized and indigenous voices. It highlights the influence of Native Americans, Latinos, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Jewish Americans on California culture. Instead of focusing on the triumphs of white people, it focuses on issues such as immigration, women’s rights, racial inequality, exploitation of the land, and LGBTQ rights. The mural is representative of indigenous Mesoamerican Art with bold colors, steep leading lines, geometric designs, and religious symbolism.
The colors pop off the bleak gray cement. The paint is striking and multidimensional. Looming figures catch your eye and draw you in with their incredible detail. The mural overwhelms and stretches beyond your vision down the waterway. Fences surround the signage to stop vandalism.
It’s easy to separate yourself from history. It’s easy to forget. The mural is a reminder that we are all connected, and that we have a responsibility to preserve our shared history. A lot can change in a short amount of time. If only we weren’t so afraid of each other. If only we saw each other as equals. As I walk along the mural, I am reminded to lift others up. There is always the possibility for a better, more balanced future.
“I want to produce artwork that has meaning beyond simple decorative values. I hope to use public space to create public voice, and consciousness about the presence of people who are often the majority of the population but who may not be represented in any visual way. By telling their stories we are giving voice to the voiceless and visualizing the whole of the American story while creating sites of public memory.”
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https://www.nps.gov/places/great-wall-of-los-angeles.htm
https://sparcinla.org/programs/the-great-wall-mural-los-angeles/
https://planning.lacity.org/blog/great-wall-los-angeles
https://www.csun.edu/mike-curb-arts-media-communication/judy-baca
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-09-10/racial-covenants-los-angeles-pioneered
May 13, 2023
