Standing before a gigantic painting of a bouquet of flowers, bursting with blues and pinks larger than life, Emerson Little ’21—born and raised in Southern California—witnessed a side to Los Angeles he’d never experienced before.
The spray-painted mural, “Bloom,” transforms the side of the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension’s four-story Neptune Building into a breathtaking work of art—not to mention an instant Instagram opportunity. The installation was just one of the many murals and graffiti artworks that about 50 Whittier College students, professors, and staff toured recently through downtown L.A.
Along the way, their tour guides shed light on the pieces’ history and meanings.
“Our tour guide was an actual graffiti artist, who was able to express his passion for art and talk to us about his first-hand experience, spray-painting in L.A.,” said Little, an art major. “It was fascinating to hear him explain the technique behind the murals and how graffiti artists like himself wake up early in the morning to create these wonderful works of art.”
Organized by the College’s Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI), the tour gave students an opportunity to engage with the L.A. art scene and expose them to the vibrant city’s history and culture. They were guided by Hector “ShanduOne” Calderon and Galo “Make” Canote, pioneers of the L.A. graffiti scene, who led the from enormous murals to gems well hidden in the everyday hustle and bustle of the city.
“It was very interesting and something that you wouldn’t know walking downtown yourself,” said Kayla Kosaki, OEI assistant director.
Amy Trinh ’20, who’s pursuing a self-designed major in marketing psychology and digital art, felt privileged to hear stories about the artists’ lives and inspirations. Through the explanations and fun backstories on the tour, she was able to see the murals as more than art. Trinh added that it was “truly an experience” to expand her perspective of street art.
“On the surface, the art may appear to be bold colors or intricate designs, but when we dive deeper they are an artist’s mark on the world, a method of their self expression, a tribute to their heritage, or even their life story,” she said.
The trip was co-sponsored by the College’s Leadership Experience and Programs office.
More: See photos of the students’ tour, taken by Little and Trinh, and watch a video of the trip produced by Little.
