LAPD Mural Criticized ~ Boyle Heights
From today’s Los Angeles Times:
The tile mural was meant to depict a quaint Sunday in Boyle Heights. Many angry residents say it makes their neighborhood out to be a crime-ridden dump filled with fat women, stray dogs, beer-swilling men and illegal street vendors. And don’t get them started about the piñata.
The artist who did the mural is Sandow Birk, who is an internationally recognized artist from Los Angeles. Ironically, his wikipedia page says “Stereotypes about… the brutality of L.A. police officers is often part of a work.”
(8 tacos)
Ann Marie wrote:
Nice Mural. You know people will always critize something they do not understand. But to an artist/artestian understands the meaning and purpose of his/r’ her work. Thank You, bcuz I see a story and truly appreciate your work. Please don’t allow people to discourage your artist’s hand. Keep It Cruzin’ IN ELA.
Posted on 05-Apr-08 at 6:59 pm | Permalink
Alex wrote:
It seems like everyones reaction is loosely based off of the “How Dare You!” sentiment. The mural has over-generalized and super stereotypical images that reflect how the cops actually see the city. Police are bastards in general but they “are the law” so-to-speak and we have less rights everyday. Maybe this is a message of where they stand. Kinda poetic that they chose this artist to tell it how they think it is…
Posted on 05-Apr-08 at 7:10 pm | Permalink
huerta wrote:
The mural shows how divided we are within our own communities. The people depicted in the mural and the ones offended by it live side by side yet they’re still worlds apart. Generational gaps contribute to this problem but for the better part it’s because no one talks to each other anymore. I walk around these neighborhoods and talk to people but for the better part everyone thinks everyone else is out to get them. Whether it be for parking spaces or because they looked at them the wrong everyone ignores each other.
Posted on 07-Apr-08 at 11:40 am | Permalink
Ashley wrote:
This mural is lacking what we would like to see in our future. Where are the children reading? where are the families having a great time at Hollenbeck Park? Even if we are a population of 95% Latino, it dosn’t mean we have to engrave our “Culture” onto the wall of a building in which their purpose is to not only protect us, but help shape our community to look better and safer.
I am apart of the new generation and i see ALOT of improvement within our community. People just like to see what’s outside of the improvement.
Posted on 07-Jul-08 at 11:15 am | Permalink