Repainting History at the Los Angeles River

LOS ANGELES – History can be taught in many ways, from lectures and textbooks, to videos and murals.  Founder of Social Public Art Resource Center, Judy Baca, taught Los Angeles County the history of its own people through the creation of the Great Wall of Los Angeles mural in 1974. Throughout the years, Judy, fellow muralists, and at risk youth expanded the mural to it’s current state of 2,754 feet. Now the Great Wall is losing it brilliant colors, bringing Judy, new, and past muralist – including UCLA students – to the restoration of what is now part of the history of Los Angeles. The October restoration is just the beginning of this process, which will continue until next year. These photos follow the restoration, which Judy says, “is healing the wound of the river.”