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

Public Art in Madison, Wisconsin By Lesley Zavala  July 19, 2026 Civic Engagement Project- State Street and the University of Wisconsin–Madison Neighborhood Lesley Zavala July 17,2026 Art 3170-01 Phase 1: Site Selection  Site: State Street, beginning near the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus and continuing toward the Wisconsin State Capitol.      I chose State Street and the surrounding University of Wisconsin-Madison neighborhood because it is an area where education, local businesses, government, history, and public art all come together. State Street creates a direct connection between the UW-Madison campus and the Wisconsin State Capitol. Students, local residents, workers, tourists, musicians, artists, and people attending political events all use this area.      I am an engineering major, so I was also interested in looking at public art from an engineering point of view. UW-Madison has a major College of Engineering that focuses...

  Al Sadeqe Art 3170 Civic Engagement Project Koreatown, Los Angeles  Phase 1: Site Selection For this project, I chose Koreatown in Los Angeles, which is my own neighborhood. I selected this area because I spend a lot of time here and wanted to better understand the public art that is part of my everyday surroundings. Koreatown is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Los Angeles, with a rich cultural history and a mix of public spaces that reflect both the past and the present. I was interested in seeing how public art tells the story of the community and who is represented through these works. During my visit, I focused on three locations: RFK Inspiration Park, the Korean War Memorial, and the public artwork at the Wilshire/Vermont Metro Station. Together, these sites show different ways that public art can educate, honor history, and improve public spaces. Phase 2: Fieldwork During my visit, I documented three examples of public art that each serve a unique purpose in t...

Civic Engagement Project in Pasadena    by Claire Yabut   Phase 1 : The Site (Pasadena, California)           I chose this site because when I first arrived here in America, the Pasadena area (specifically Old Town Pasadena), stood out to me because it became part of my daily routine. When I went to school and work before, I always pass the area and notice a very lively energy because of the people and its stores. It felt like there was so much stores or cafes hidden behind the main road I usually go through. I realized I have not really taken the time to explore and appreciate the details of this place so I took this project as an opportunity to experience and get know it.  Phase 2 : Field Work       Einstein & Beyond  Gifford Myers, 1998 ceramic, fiberglass, marble, glass, iron and steel   85 E Holly St (exterior of Pasadena Senior Center)   This is a mural that shows the three dimensional wi...

 Civic Engagement Project - Boyle Heights, CA Art 3170 - Whose City? Public Art, Power, and Representation in Los Angeles By Juliana Pina Phase 1: The Site      I chose Boyle Heights because it was actually a place I was already familiar with. Being that it’s fairly close to where I live, whenever I travel within Los Angeles, I usually pass by or drive through Boyle Heights. I had been there many times, but never actually stopped to explore the public art or really think about the history it includes. The neighborhood I chose is Boyle Heights. I believe it is one of the most culturally and historically important neighborhoods in Los Angeles. The murals in the area represent the Chicano movement, immigration, music, faith, and activism in the community. I chose this particular neighborhood because I have already visited it. I thought that this would give me the option to go beyond just walking through the area and actually absorb it. I wanted to see the murals and ref...

Civic Engagement Project- San Fernando Valley Eduardo Soria July 18, 2026 Art 3170-01 Phase 1: Site Selection Site: San Fernando Valley, California primarily Pacoima, Van Nuys, San Fernando. I chose the San Fernando Valley because it is a community that I grew up with and one that reflects the diversity of Los Angeles. The Valley contains neighborhoods with different cultures, histories, and backgrounds. Public art in this area tells stories about immigration, local heroes, cultural identity, and community pride. Since I have spent many years in the San Fernando Valley I wanted to talk about and show how its murals and sculptures represent the people who live there and whether all members of the community feel included.   Phase 2: Field Work The Pacoima Mural Mile is located on Van Nuys Boulevard in Pacoima, one of Los Angeles' oldest Latino neighborhoods. Its location is important because it is part of a busy commercial corridor where students, workers, and visitors pass every da...

 Civic Engagement Project by Cassandra Valdez  Phase 1: The Site – El Monte, California      While thinking about which city to pick, I ultimately decided on El Monte, California, since I have lived there my whole life and am quite familiar with the area, which would help me do this project to the best of my ability. I believe that selecting something known to me would give me a chance to view this place in a different light than before. Before undertaking this assignment I was not paying any special attention to public art which can be found throughout the city. I might have been passing by murals, graffiti and other artwork several times not even noticing them. El Monte is an eclectic community with its own culture, history, and unique identity. In terms of my research project, it would be important for me to discover if public art in this city depicts people from the area . Therefore, I am going to analyze themes of murals and other types of publi...