Great Wall of Los Angeles: detail: 1,000 A.D. Early Californians and 1522 Spanish Arrival

Narrative mural depicting California history from prehistory thru the 1920s. The arrival of the Spanish explorer Portolà, who brought the first expedition from Mexico to L.A. in 1769, begins the third segment designed by Judith Baca. The figures in the clouds of smoke that rise from the Indian campfires represent the legendary Black Amazon Queen, Califia, whom Portolà expected to find and for whom California is named. The peaceful early history of the region ends with a white hand rising from the sea, symbol of the destruction of Native American life by white settlers.

• Summer, 1976 (first 1,000 feet); 1979 (photograph); 1976-1983 (entire mural); 2008-2011 (restoration)

• Social and Public Arts Resource Center (Venice, Los Angeles, Calif.)

• Baca, Judith Francisca (Mexican-American installation artist and muralist, born 1946)

Los Angeles Valley College

Tujunga Wash, Los Angeles (California)

2,754 feet (entire mural)

A collaborative project by Judith Baca and over 400 employed youths and artists. The first one thousand feet were painted during the first summer of work in 1976. Additionally the first one thousand feet were divided into sections of 100 feet each. Although the content is highly integrated, each section was designed by a different artist under the general supervision of Judith Baca.

• California

• Explorers
• History
• Indians of North America
• Mural painting and decoration
• Narrative art
• Symbolism
• Visions

• image

• No linguistic content; Not applicable

Shared Shelf: 1709445

Paintings

• UC Regents

Under copyright (US)

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2021-09-30