Abstract
This project discusses various pieces of street art from four cities of California: Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland, and Los Angeles. Street art is often specific to the region it is in, as it can be a means through which the community expresses their culture or shared beliefs. Street art often makes political or cultural statements that are on display for both members of the community, as well as for those that come to visit or view. Street art also is a way for people to honor members of their community who have passed, and it often memorializes their political voices. Street artists create the allure of expression; in today’s world they draw the attention of the public in order to make their point, often taking political stances or contributing to their communities’ stories.
Sacramento
@A.J.KUTE
Art work by @bhang1, @leaveswell, @shaunburner, @ewfrank, @trustyourstrugglecollective.
Collaborative inpute @artbyaliyah and @brndn_alexndr #amplifymelanatedvoices
These three murals are located on J and 10th street in downtown Sacramento CA.
midtown Sacramento
Local artists created powerful murals down J Street, posted on store fronts a block from the capital. The murals feature a Malcolm X quote on how the media is biased and reinforces narratives that aim to demonize and shut down social movements. Each section captures a different point of view that media tends to cover instead of the larger social context of widespread police brutality.
@ursulaxyoung @fewandfarwomen
@dj_agana @fewandfarwomen
@miss_moth_design @fewandfarwomen
@ladimenua @fewandfarwomen
These images are located on 24th and S Streets in Sacramento, CA. All photos credited @fewandfarwomen, which is an organization called Few and Far, Inc., Est. 2011, their motto is “Women refining the art of the streets.” They are an international crew of street artists, graffiti writers, activists, and skaters.
The city of Oakland has a community Rejuvenation project, which “cultivates healthy communities through beautification, education, and celebration” (Murals). Their goal is beautifying Oakland with their bright murals and create a sense of community through their art. Much of the street art around Oakland captures life in the bay area and through its social justice pieces can be found around the city providing a bit of history. A lot of the recent murals around the city were created in the summer 2020 right after the murder of George Floyd. Artist gathered together to create murals that would help bring the message of unity to the public.
"This is how we protest. This is how we know how to give radical love for the black communities whose liberation is directly tied to ours, acknowledging that their fight paved for us to be here to fight" - Cece Carpio
This mural, located in Oakland, was organized by @cececarpio. She is responsible for assisting on several murals in Oakland, CA. In her post on her instagram page, Carpio includes @samasamacooperative, @theletterthi @bali, @pmbarong
Many San Francisco locals would say the “Real” street art lies deep within the city, in the Mission District. One of the places with the most art is on Valencia, and between 17th and 18th Streets there is an alleyway called Clarion Alley. This path holds rich pieces of artwork that depict many cultural and political images and phrases that reflect the ideologies of the area’s historically predominant Latino community. Another example is Balmy Alley, a long block full of art, also in the Mission. The murals began to appear in the 80’s as artists used the space to express their outrage for the lack of human rights. The murals are constantly changing; as the state of the community changes, the cultural, political, and historical statements made in these works of art reflect these changes. These works capture the history and culture of the community and are part of the allure of the Mission District, attracting visitors in ways similar to how some people flock to exhibits in museums.
"I believe in my heart no one wants to be the one to unjustly kill another man, I believe that. but at the end of the day…the problem exists that police brutality is out of control. " @bip_graffiti
This mural in San Francisco California is by @bip_graffiti In his Instagram account he states. “I carried this piece in the back of my head for years. I kept practicing putting an adult expression on a child not really able to nail it, until I understood the image itself was about contrast and internal disagreement. when I made that understanding, I threw my old color studies and rebuilt the painting out of direct contrasts to echo that confliction”. @montana_colors, @atlas_prop_group, @swinstagessystens, @maximizevideo
The city of Los Angeles is filled with many beautiful works of street art throughout the city. A number of pieces have been organized by barrio.la; barrio.la is an independent company based in Los Angeles and run by locals. They also sell handcrafted items as well as photographed pieces of street art with its author’s signature. This way visitors or locals can own a piece of Los Angeles framed. Much of the art around the city is meant to provide a sense of solidarity and comfort to the community. When police brutality occurs, the walls of the city tell the story.
This interactive mural created by @_showzart is part of the Beverly Center project in Los Angeles California, located in Beverly and La Cienega. The artist aims to gather the community to post a photo in front of the mural and tag him. He hopes to create awareness for the lives lost to the abuse of power whom faces are on the sleeve of what appears to be the American flag on a hand flicky the young boy. @the_sidewalk_project, @beverlycenter,@paintthecitypeaceful,@leestapleton,@drakepierre,@spencer_william.
@ponywave
‘Life is Beautiful’ by @mrbrainwash
This image of Audrey Hepburn is located in downtown LA #skidrow by @Freehumanity
About The Author
Jessica De León is a Master’s student in the school of Cinema at San Francisco State University. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at East Bay University in Stage Tech and Design. Her focus is on how black and brown incarcerated bodies are depicted on screen similar to the criminalization of immigrants. When not in school, Jessica spends time with family and friends and frequents between Los Angeles and The Bay. She enjoys going to theaters, or editing short videos.
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