"A Dream of A Sunday Afternoon in Boyle Heights"
Sandow Birk and Elyse Pignolet
LAPD Hollenbeck Police Station Mural - Los Angeles
A 1,000 square foot ceramic tile mural commissioned by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department for the new Hollenbeck Police Station in Boyle Heights, 2009.
Hand-painted on hand-made ceramic tiles, 14' high x 104' long.
Based on the iconic mural "Dreaming of a Sunday Afternoon in the Plaza Alameda" by Diego Rivera in Mexico City, the mural depicts an imaginary street scene of daily life in Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles, moving through time from left to right, from the neighborhood's early history as a Jewish enclave, up through the 1900's and into the 21st century.
Special Thanks
The mural was realized with the assistance, long hours, hard work, and collaboration of more than twenty-five community members.
Special thanks and recognition go to Sgt. Milt Hernandez, the Community Relations officer at Hollenbeck, who supported the project and gave a personal tour of the station.
Special thanks also to the LAPD Museum and to Christopher King, and to Michael Amescua, Thomas Benitz, Susan Boyle, Robert Hernandez, Jesse Raya, Lauro Salazar, Allessandra Moctezuma, all whom had previously put together a spectacular, hand-made book on the history of Boyle Heights for the MTA Community Advisory Group. Included in that book are photos by Brenda Adame, Anne Buckley, Irma Garcia, Terry Garcia, Ann Murdy, and Jenette Vivas. It was an invaluable aid during the development of the project and included writings, personal histories, maps, and interviews with Boyle Heights residents. We would also like to especially thank Roland Silva, who spent considerable time with us elaborating on the history of the area, providing the backgrounds on landmark buildings and remarkable residents, suggesting good restaurants, and elaborating on the historical events that have made the neighborhood what it is today.
