Whose City? Public Art, Power, and Representation in Urban Landscape Blog 2

 Kayla Bahadarian Professor Aziz Art 3170 April 2026 Venice Beach, California PHASE 1: THE SITE The place I chose for my project is  Venice Beach . Venice Beach is a really popular area in Los Angeles that a lot of people visit, but it’s also known for its strong art culture. When you walk along the boardwalk, you see murals, graffiti, and street performers everywhere. It feels very different from a traditional museum because the art is out in the open and part of everyday life. What I like about Venice Beach is how expressive it is. There are so many different styles and messages, and you can tell that artists are using the space to share their ideas freely. It’s busy and sometimes chaotic, but that’s also what makes it feel real and creative at the same time. PHASE 2: FIELD WORK   (Image 1: Venice Art Walls / graffiti wall) One of the most important art spaces in Venice is the  Venice Art Walls . These walls are always changing because different artists are constan...

Phase 1: The site      I chose a mural of MLB star Shohei Ohtani, titled “LA Rising” located in Little Tokyo which represents the growth and diversity of Los Angeles. Since he plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers, it feels connected to the community in Los Angeles. Also, this mural is about these three ambassadors of Japan who came to Los Angeles and shared their culture with our city to bridge unity which is considered to bring people around the world together. As the author calls a “cultural bridge” between two nations.     I chose this site because it caught my attention every time I went to Little Tokyo. The colors and design make it stand out, and I think it looks powerful and inspiring. It is very interesting to me since I figured out the features of an interactive QR code that activates an augmented reality (AR) experience.    Phase 2: Field Work     I documented the MLB star Shohei Ohtani, who is the subject of a large 150-foot...

  Phase 1: The site  I chose to work on the Hollywood Hills sign because this art is known to be an experimental art piece rather than a regular traditional piece. Knowing this art piece makes me know how this came to be, how it affects people around Los Angeles, and how it started to affect movies too which gives an identity to people of those connected to Hollywood.  Another reason why I chose this was because when it came to be in 1923, it was made out of wood, sheet metal, and telephone poles. The sign was originally HOLLYWOODLAND and even had like thousands of light bulbs so it could glow at night in segments in which the whole idea was supposed to last around for a year or two but it quickly became Iconic. Over time the sign fell into disrepair in 1949 in which the LAND portion was removed and the remaining HOLLYWOOD sign was restored by the city which turned it into a symbol of film industry rather than a real estate ad and by 1978 it was full rebuilt out of steel ...

  Civic Engagement Project – ART 3170 Whose City? Public Art, Power, and Representation in Los Angeles Site: Arts District, Los Angeles PHASE 1: THE SITE I selected the Arts District in Downtown Los Angeles as the focus of this civic engagement project because it is one of the most concentrated and visually saturated public art environments in the city. The neighborhood is widely recognized for its murals, graffiti culture, and large-scale commissioned street art, yet it is also a rapidly gentrifying industrial district shaped by redevelopment, rising property values, and the expansion of creative industries. This makes it an especially important site for examining how public art operates not only as cultural expression, but also as a tool of urban branding, historical narration, and economic transformation. My familiarity with this area comes from multiple visits and sustained observation of how its visual landscape changes across blocks and ownership structures. Some walls reflec...

 Phase 1: The Site       I chose the Fernando Valenzuela Mural in Boyle Heights as my site because it represents a strong connection between art, culture, and community identity. Being familiar with the neighborhood allows me to better understand the meaning behind the artwork and how it reflects the identity of the people who live there.      I selected this site because the mural honors Fernando Valenzuela, an important figure in Los Angeles who inspired many people, especially within the Latino community. The mural was created by local artist Robert Vargas, who is also from Boyle Heights, which adds to its authenticity and connection to the neighborhood. This site stood out to me because it combines public art with community pride, history, and shared experiences.  Phase 2: Field Work     I documented the Fernando Valenzuela Mural, which is a large-scale mural painted on the side of an apartment building near First Street in Boyl...

Phase 1-  The Garden Gate (2004)- The Garden Gate celebrates the accomplishments of the women of Whittier past, present and future." "Women of Whittier" composed by sculptor Guy A. Wilson can be described as a 3 piece cast bronze sculptural tribute to Whittier's women, consisting of a pair of cast bronze double-sided high relief gate sculptures flanking a life-size sculpture of a small girl. How did you choose your site? Briefly discuss your history within the site and what made you choose the site. Growing up I had always seen this artwork while living as a resident in the city of Whittier. As I grew older and attended junior college at Rio Hondo I would drive past this artwork on a daily basis and was always curious as to what it was.    This sculpture installation was dedicated on October 9, 2004 and contains extensive inscriptions on the reverse sides of the two gate panels:  One of Whittier’s earliest settlers recognized the potential of this garden setting....

  Civic engagement: Downey, California Denisse Calderon ART 3170 Professor Aziz 12 April 2026                                   Phase 1: Location The location I chose is Downey Ca, I chose this because I have fond memories of this neighborhood, even though I do not reside there. All my life, I have always wanted to spend my time in Downey. Their malls and movie theatres kept all my attention durring highschool that I know the place like the back of my hand. I feel as though it truly is my neighborhood. Therefore, I know aswell all of the art the city has, both new and old.                                                                      Phase 2: Field work Produced by Stay...

  Phase 1 : The Site For the location of my civil engagement project I chose East Los Angeles because it not only is the city I grew up in which I still live in to this day, but it is a neighborhood rich with hispanic culture as well. The biggest thing that stands out to me about East LA is the pride that comes with being from it and the history behind it. If the Dodgers win the whole neighborhood comes out to the Boulevard to celebrate and as destructive as it may be its the community that bands together to show that pride of where they come from.  Phase 2 : Field Work   Artwork/landmark: Whittier Boulevard Arch A.K.A "El Arco"  Location: 4629 Whittier Blvd, East Los Angels, CA 90022 Materials: Metal  Reads: Whittier Boulevard East Los angels Commissioned by Whittier Boulevard Merchants Association Artwork/landmark: Latino Walk of Fame Location: Along Whittier Boulevard sidwalk  Material: Stone  Commissioned by Whittier Boulevard Merchants Association...

  The Site: Fontana, California I decided to choose the city of Fontana for this assignment because it's my neighborhood. This is the city I grew up in and I've always have had this sense of pride for my hometown. Over the years, I've seen my community grow over the course of years. The city has also become more present with public art bit by bit. Choosing Fontana has also allowed me to make a deep dive into the artworks and has given me the time to learn further more about public art in my city. Field Work Casey Courey-Pickering Foothill Blvd. & Oleander Ave. Utility Box Public Art Owen Cholid Sierra Ave. & Valencia Ave Utility Box Public Art Fontana has been holding contests for public artworks in an effort to beautify the city. These artworks placed on utility boxes throughout the city. These particular artworks stood out to me because of the way artist can contribute toward their community. I really enjoyed Casey's art piece with the space and astronaut them...