Gaffey Street "Hey Rookie" Public Swimming Pool Project - 2017

A 400 square foot mural painted with underglazes on hand-made tiles. 12' tall by 34' long. Angel's Gate Park, Los Angeles.

Lead Artist: Elyse Pignolet

Imagined as a panoramic, fictional view of the Los Angeles Harbor and San Pedro, the ceramic tile mural moves through time from left to right. The images on the far left depict the early days of the area with tall ships and a whaler carving scrimshaw, with harpoons nearby (referencing the early shore-based whalers of Terminal Island and Portuguese Bend). The Vincent Thomas Bridge can be seen in the distance, while contemporary container ships are being unloaded at the docks. The Terminal Island Ferry from the 1920’s crosses the channel towards a contemporary Tug Boat, which sails past the old Marine Exchange atop Municipal Warehouse No. 1, now decorated with it’s “Welcome” mural on the water tower and the “Port of L.A.” logo.

In the center foreground, stevedores unload a variety of cargo by hand, while a pelican watches from atop a barrel. In the middle, Shanghai Red’s Café and an old tattoo parlor symbolize the waterfront life of the 19th Century. The old Ferry Building, now the Maritime Museum are depicted, along with the Angels Gate Lighthouse and a departing Cruise Ship. The Korean Friendship Bell is above the Point Fermin Lighthouse, with kites flying and Catalina Island and a container ship on the horizon. Finally, the big guns of Fort MacArthur protect the coast and harbor overlooking the cliffs of White Point and Royal Palms.