“Dolores Del Río” is part of SPARC’s Neighborhood Pride Mural program, whose intent is to create and represent the various cultural identities throughout Los Angeles neighborhoods. While it may not be a stretch to fathom how a 1920s movie star can be representative of Hollywood, the significance of the mural lies much deeper than the glitz and glam of the city.

On July 20, 2016, the CityWide Mural Program (CWMP) team began the restoration process of La Ofrenda, located under a bridge on 2nd and Toluca in downtown Los Angeles. The piece was painted by Yreina Cervantez in 1989. Since then, the mural had been tagged with graffiti numerous times and completely covered by another mural.

After 21 years of being out on the sunny streets of Los Angeles, Noni Olabisi’s “To Protect and Serve” is now receiving much needed conservation repairs. The historic artwork depicts the social services created by the Black Panther Party. Bobby Seale, Huey Newton and Angela Davis are memorialized in the mural as the demands of the party to end policy brutality and the murder of Black People, the right to land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice and peace contextualize the powerful narrative.

Chagall Returns to Venice Beach is a tribute to Venice’s retired Jewish Community. The inclusion of imagery by Marc Chagall, a celebrated Jewish artist, appeals to the both the Jewish and Venice communities. Some of the individuals who assisted in painting the original mural are now members who attend the meetings at the Senior Center, which has created a strong sense of ownership over the mural.

“Love is for Everyone” by Mary-Linn Hughes and Reginald Zachary was created under SPARC’s Neighborhood Pride Program in 1991. The mural is located on 5149 W. Jefferson Blvd, in Los Angeles. This is the first mural in Los Angeles to incorporate the subject of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The goal of this mural is to portray the diversity of individuals affected by AIDS.

The conservation of Charles “Boko” Freeman’s mural, “Return to the Light” is now complete! SPARC’s CityWide Mural Team along with Boko spent several weeks meticulously repairing the mural from vandalism and delamination.

“Not Somewhere Else, But Here” by Daryl Wells emphasizes the themes of community service, social actions and education that the National Council of Jewish Women of Los Angeles endorses. Wells depicts influential and prominent women of varied ethnic backgrounds building community and sharing struggles through the act of “breaking bread” together. Furthermore, it is both homage to the women it depicts and also a gesture to the community in support of multiculturalism.

The emblematic mural “Hitting the Wall” was egregiously whitewashed in 2019 without the consent of the artist and our founder, Judy Baca. The piece commemorated the first time female runners were allowed to compete in the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics. Much like the incredible women who’s perseverance the piece encapsulates, “Hitting the Wall” will not be silenced. LA Metro has taken responsibility for the damages and has agreed to support SPARC’s restoration of the mural. SPARC will be meeting with CalTrans leadership to develop solutions for the future maintenance of the mural, including the improvement of lighting, fencing, reporting, and the enforcement of laws against the destruction of public art. Currently, CalTrans has no maintenance fund for murals on state...

  Assessment before the restoration in May 2011   Restoration completed and shielded with MuralShield™        Street View on Google Maps