Photo: M.Imlay
It’s either the best of wall art or it’s the worst of wall art, depending upon your perspective. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But if you ever needed a demonstration of the self-evident principle that murals mirror the life and cultural assumptions of their respective communities, this is it.
Detail, Temple City mural.
This first mural decorates a small gift shop in the heart of Temple City, the sleepy WASP-ish suburb where I grew up. Murals were never really a part of my former hometown’s tableau, so this one grabbed my attention during a recent visit. I have no idea when it went up, but the painting appears to depict an idealized scene from the area’s formative years as a predominantly Anglo ranching community a century or more ago. Although Temple City has become more Asian in recent years, the old Euro-centric cultural cues remain — this piece might just as easily be a depiction of an English or German country scene.
Viva La Diferencia…
Photo: M.Imlay
As a study in contrasts, the second mural above is a well-known icon found in my current Echo Park, Los Angeles, neighborhood.
Detail, Echo Park mural.
Of course, all murals tell a story, but I much prefer the Latin-themed tales scattered about my “grown-up” neighborhood. More often than not the storytellers here think big and bold, employing vibrant symbols to impart powerful cultural messages and social commentary. Expressive and colorful, their murals are more than mere wall adornments — they exude energy and purpose.
I guess that’s another reason I prefer life in the big city vis-a-vis the suburbs. Up against diverse pieces like this, the few murals you’ll find in my old childhood stomping grounds seem as flat as the walls they’re painted on.
