LA Gets 300-Foot Street Art Mural
A new large-scale mural "A Valley In Time" by Erica Friend now graces San Fernando Road in Los Angeles, spanning nearly 300 feet and completed by a team of seven artists. It represents one of the biggest public art commissions in the city, testament to LA's continuing street art vibrancy.
- The mural is specifically located on the rear wall of the Three Hands Corp. building at 15675 Roxford Street in Sylmar, CA, where San Fernando Road and Roxford Street intersect. This location was previously a target for graffiti, and the mural is intended to deter future vandalism and beautify the area. - The project was funded by Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, who represents the 7th Council District where the mural is located. The mural was managed by the nonprofit group 11:11 Projects. - The mural's theme is a celebration of the Sylmar community, juxtaposing its agricultural past with its present-day landscape. It pays homage to the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, the original inhabitants of the land. - Depicted within the artwork are local wildlife and landmarks, including Zeus, a blind owl from the local Wildlife Learning Center, as well as endangered parrots, monarch butterflies, and hawks. It also features nods to the area's history of orchards and hang gliding in the Sylmar Hills. - The lead artist, Erica Friend, is a San Fernando Valley native who uses her bicultural roots to create paintings, sculptures, and photographs. She has been involved in painting murals across Los Angeles as part of a collaborative. - The team of artists who assisted Friend includes Levi Ponce, Juan Pablo Reyes (JP Murals), Javier Lopez (Versus), Ray Valencia (MuteOne), Rah Azul, and Desiree Sanchez (Desiboo Creations). - "A Valley in Time" is the second-largest above-ground mural in the San Fernando Valley, measuring 289 feet long and 30 feet high. The planning for the project took two years before the 15-day painting process began.
