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The Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) visual arts department features a youth's art education center that features an annual artist residency to

Visit our new HOLA Public Art Project blog! Read more about our residencies starting from 2023 and onwards. We have a lot of exciting projects featured so click the link and don't miss out!

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Reflections Activation, Post-Celebration Joy ✨

Following our lovely mural inauguration, we continued the conversation with a reception, ending with a creative activity: weaving!

The weaving lesson was taught by community member and teaching artist, Marlené Nancy Lopez. It was a great way to reflect, inspired by the day of collective learning and acknowledgment. It reminded us to keep creating as a result of creation, as creativity is the fuel for activation.

Thank you Nery Gabriel Lemus for leading this project. Your valuable work, artistry, and teaching were largely impactful and we hold so much gratitude for your residency at HOLA.

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Reflections Activation, Project Celebration!!!

The celebration was a fun success – full of wisdom and inspiration!

On Sep 23, 2022, community members, HOLA youth and families, the Reflections Project Team, LAPL staff and patrons and the artist, Nery Gabriel Lemus, all came together to celebrate and learn about the mural. 

And of course, take proud pictures with the mural, truly activating the site! Mission accomplished!

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Reflections Activation, An Invitation to Celebrate the Mural Inauguration

To celebrate our work and our collective creativity, we invited the public to join us in front of the mural in conversation and affirmation.

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Reflections Activation with Nery Gabriel Lemus: Mural Complete!

After countless hours spent painting in community at HOLA, the mural was finally completed and installed in the corner of Lafayette Park, beside the library. As a colorful piece, it stands as a representation of cultural heritage and community, revitalizing the space around it.

Site Activation ✅ !! Huge success!

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Reflections Activation with Nery Gabriel Lemus: Workshop 4!

To transition from the students’ day of summer mixed media classes, each session is welcomed in over lunch. Today, the volunteers were treated to pupusas de queso y frijoles from a local shop near the HOLA’s Visual Arts center, cuisine staples from El Salvador and Honduras. This is a special meal for our students to share during a project which serves as a spotlight on neighborhood representation and celebration of the community. One of our students’ even brought in homemade pupusas from their parents who introduced ayote (squash) into the spread. Once the students finished lunch, there was time to reflect on the larger mission and vision of the project. As Nery’s mural design draws inspiration from a Guatemalan huipil from Chicicastenango, a love letter to the large Central American and Guatemalan presence in Westlake, the students are prompted to share anecdotes of their own familial cultural heritage. What better way to further unearth the cultural richness of our HOLA community than over a hearty serving of warm, homemade pupusas.

In his mural, Lemus marries the blue squares resembling the windows of the library with the most dominant colors found in the  library's landscape- red for the brick building and green for the trees- to meld seamlessly into the building’s existing architecture. The red, green and black featured in the work are also a nod to the colors in the Pan-African flag. Through this project, our students were able to explore the history of this unique space and the surrounding neighborhood through artistic education, cultural cuisine, and strong community building. This exhibition provides the unique opportunity for our young artists to learn about, remember, celebrate and be inspired to contribute to the future narratives of their neighborhood.

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Reflections Activation with Nery Gabriel Lemus: Workshop 3!

It’s day three, and the students are back for another day of painting! By this point many of our artists have established a good workflow and identified which parts of the mural they gravitate to most. We started the day by reflecting on new things we learned and tried yesterday as well as sharing skills students found they were good at and setting goals for which ones they wanted to continue working on throughout the day. Some students enjoyed working with specific colors, others preferred taping off and coloring in, while a few discovered their affinity for the fine line work and attention to detail. Nery also taught the students a few artist tips, such as bringing in hair dryers found at home to speed up the drying process for layering and smoothing out the paint. Boards were posted to the wall so students could work on multiple pieces at once and more easily create cohesion between different panels. As the larger parts of the mural began to fill in, the more meticulous details had to be attended to. Students worked with Nery to start taping off along the rounded edges and smaller points while incorporating new colors such as bright fuchsia, lime green, and vibrant cyan into the mix. After each panel was further developed, the artists paused and zoomed out with Nery to assess the piece as a whole. Boards were roughly re-assembled to double check the alignment of the patterns and flow of the work overall. Finding a few areas for editing, Nery and the students collaborated to problem solve the necessary adjustments and got to work perfecting the pattern. Excitement built as each board was brought to further completion and students eagerly requested next steps and new tasks they could take on. 

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Reflections Activation with Nery Gabriel Lemus: Workshop 2!

Volunteers shuffled into the studio eager to start the first day of design work for the mural. The projector light switched on and our artists gathered around the wall to carefully trace out the patterns. As plywood boards were transferred to the tables, students split off to start defining the sharp edges using rulers and measuring out the more meticulous angles and pattern work. After the final steps of preparation, the artists were finally able to put brush to board and start painting. Music echoed through the studio as groups were assigned to different boards, colors and shapes and rotated through. Students flowed through various teams, getting to know one another as they familiarized themselves with the different steps necessary for creating the mural: projector tracing, line measurement, taping off sharp edges, and painting. The first paint cans to be cracked open were the bright red and forest green, the most dominant colors found in the library’s landscape. Red for the hues painting the brick building and terraced garden and green for the trees that shroud the surrounding premises with shade and dappled light. After finishing prep work for all of the panels, the traced boards are ready for the young artists to bring to life by filling in the bright colors over the course of the next few days.

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Reflections Activation with Nery Gabriel Lemus: Workshop 1!

Nery and the young artists kicked off the first day scoping out the site, taking measurements and focusing on setting strong foundations at the start of the project. Before heading over to the library, the volunteers started out introducing themselves, discussing their favorite mediums and learning about the motivations behind the project. Together we discussed the history of the Felipe de Neve Library and our primary goals for the beautification and rejuvenation of the green space. After walking to the park to meet Nery, the artists introduced themselves and got right to work. Volunteers broke out into groups and flowed between priming the plywood boards and assisting Nery with measuring and cutting them out. The students ended the day well acquainted with the outdoor space and reeling with anticipation for the next few days when the tracing and painting would commence and the white plywood boards would be brought to life with vivid colors and patterns.

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Welcome Nery Gabriel Lemus to HOLA’s Summer 2022 Berman Public Art Residency!

Nery, Los Angeles born and raised just blocks away from HOLA’s Arts and Recreation Campus in Lafayette park, returns to lead 10 young artists in the reactivation of the Felipe de Neve Library. As an internationally acclaimed artist, the subject of Lemus’ works range from issues of stereotype and immigration to problems in society that can lead to the failure of families, such as poverty, abuse and neglect. The artist received his BFA at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California (2007) and his MFA at the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, California (2009). Lemus also attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine (2008). Outside of his flourishing career as an artist, Nery is also an educator and MFA director at Azusa Pacific University. 

This project’s site is nestled at the corner of Lafayette park in an enclave of green space and dappled light is the Felipe de Neve Library. Contrasting its beautiful brick walls and terraced garden are the remains of a drained reflecting pool and fountain engulfed in litter and years of mistreatment. What once was a community space of leisure, sensory enjoyment and respite now lies the historical result of neglect and degradation spurred by the neighborhood’s severe social, economic, ethnic, and cultural shifts. The story of the changing terrain of the Park during this time period reflects an equally tumultuous period of history in Los Angeles and nationally. Like other pockets of the city experiencing socio-economic tension and abandoned by the ruling elite, the Park succumbed to territorial claims and increasing gang activity. 

In collaboration with the phenomenal students at HOLA Visual Arts, Nery and his team of young artists will initiate  Reflections in Lafayette Park: Reimagining an Urban Oasis. Reflections is a multi-year, NEH funded project with LAPL, UCLA CityLAB, the Hammer, The Huntington, LACMA, over a dozen emerging and established contemporary artists, and the HOLA community. As HOLA’s first artist residency program since the global pandemic, this location and its parenting project serve as the ideal site for HOLA’s interdisciplinary collaborations: humanities scholars working in tandem with curators, artists, and community members to activate the Library’s outdoor abandoned green spaces.

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The Ideal X- Public Art Celebration!

THANK YOU to everyone who came out to mark the first voyage of The Ideal X! It was a perfect day to share artwork with our supporters. The banner soared over the party from the side of the new building, providing a colorful backdrop for the diverse pieces we’ve developed over the past five weeks. The message written in maritime flags, “STAY ALIVE,” was certainly taken to heart by the lively atmosphere and the warmth of the summer sun. 

The sculpture was at the center of the event, students’ shipping containers were stacked in a loose interpretation of the new building’s architecture. Maps, flags, and photographs from every stage of the project framed the courtyard. Carolina and David chatted with students, staff, and community members about the summer over sandwiches and snacks. Surrounded by the many layers of The Ideal X, we celebrated life and reflected on the important issues raised by the project about the environment and migration. There is more to be done in the fight to stay alive, and our journey is just beginning.

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The Ideal X- Week 5

It is the final week of The Ideal X, and the project is coming together in big ways. As soon as students walked in the door, they picked up their shipping containers and got to work. Paint splattered and conversation filled the studio as Carolina consulted with everyone individually to write artist statements explaining the narrative of their containers.  

We have been building these narratives for weeks, and seeing them evolve and come to fruition was awesome. Slowly but surely, students began finishing their containers. A makeshift photography studio popped up in the corner to capture each piece before it’s transformed into part of the collaborative sculpture. 

The few who finished early practiced their curatorial skills with David. Reminders of our journey, from the maps we created with Vincent Ramos to the messages we brainstormed for the banner all re-emerged to be mounted for our Friday celebration. Finishing touches, attention to detail, and a final push have finally brought The Ideal X safely to harbor, and we are ready for you!

Join us tomorrow 7/26 from 12pm-2pm at the Lafayette Park Recreation Center in Los Angeles for the world premiere of The Ideal X! 

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The Ideal X- Week 4

Watersheds, containers, and coded messages kept us busy during Week 4 of The Ideal X! Students focused on creating their individual shipping containers, using a combination of pencils, paints, paper, and glue to tell unique stories. Their designs tackle gender equality, ocean pollution, identity, and more. Although every piece is different, they share common inspiration in the complexity of shipping containers. 

After a productive session with our containers, LA Water Keeper joined us for a special presentation and hands-on workshop. We learned about pollution in the Los Angeles watersheds and advocacy efforts like the Creeks to Coast program that protect our water. In groups we built our own mini watersheds out of foil, then polluted them with “oil,” “toxins,” and “feces” (represented by various delicious sauces!) to see how the movement of water affects our environment.  

Finally, we came together to answer an important question: what is The Ideal X’s message to the community? Students nominated short phrases that could be translated into maritime flag code on our giant banner. Eventually two front runners emerged: DO SOMETHING and STAY ALIVE. After several heated rounds of voting, we had a winner-STAY ALIVE.

Stay tuned to learn more about The Ideal X’s message of learning to survive, take action, and thrive.

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We can’t contain our excitement! The Ideal X docks in Los Angeles next week. Please join HOLA Visual Arts on Friday July 26th from 12pm-2pm at the Lafayette Park Recreation Center (625 S Lafayette Park Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90057) for an end of summer celebration and premiere of our public art project, The Ideal X.

We are excited to share the amazing work our students have created with summer artist residents Carolina Caycedo and David de Rozas. This free event includes food, fun, and some awesome art. RSVP and share with your friends: https://www.facebook.com/events/1097666313774334/?active_tab=about. 

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The Ideal X- Week 3

Week 3 of The Ideal X brings special guests, starting with artist Suné Woods. She gave a beautiful presentation of her work for the students, including the recent performance You are mine. I see now, I'm a have to let you go in collaboration with Fred Moten and James Gordon Williams. We discussed trauma, healing, and how artists find the messages they want to share. 

The Ideal X will include a large banner with a coded message from HOLA to the community. What is our message? The students broke into small discussion groups where they jotted down ideas and talked about what issues they have been grappling with while developing their shipping container projects.  

SAVE OUR SOULS

FEAR ISN’T RESPECT

WE SHARE THE SAME WATER

The students shared these messages with Suné and Carolina, and every group had powerful ideas tackling environmental issues, championing diversity, and more. As we transitioned back into working on our shipping containers, this new direction and energy took hold. Mock-ups were finished and we began to paint, collage, and build elements for the final container. 

We ended the week with a special appearance from East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice. The young leaders explained to the students how pollution negatively affects vulnerable populations at  a higher rate, using examples from their own experience to demonstrate why this inequality happens. They also shared the community organizing work to resist and dismantle these environmental dangers. 

#fightingforlife #wearejusttryingtobreathe #zeroemissionsnow 

Thanks so much to all of our guests, the fight continues next week!

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The Ideal X- Week 2

Although the second week of The Ideal X continues a deeper exploration into our shipping containers, it is clear the creativity of our students cannot be ‘contained!’ We began the day with a presentation from Carolina about her work as an artist. Feeling inspired, everyone then found their mini containers from last week and received a new shipping container blueprint. This time, instead of maps, we constructed mock ups!

Students built on the images, texts, and resources they encountered last week to plan how they will design shipping containers that will fit together to form a collaborative sculpture. Some worked together in teams, challenging themselves to think in three dimensions while sketching on a flat surface. Carolina and David moved around the table discussing concepts ranging from goldfish crackers to immigration. 

As we wrapped up, students took a few moments to write short artist statements. Sharing out, we heard the creativity and diversity of each individual project. It was also clear that two especially meaningful themes dominate The Ideal X- environmental issues and migration issues. The story continues next week- see you then!

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The Ideal X- Welcome Guests!

HOLA’s Public Art Residency is a team effort. Carolina and David have organized some awesome guest appearances who will run a variety of workshops with the students exploring the impacts of shipping containers. 

A special welcome to all of our guest facilitators: 

Vincent Ramos  is an artist from Los Angeles. He received his MFA from the California Institute of the Arts (2007) and his BFA from Otis College of Art and Design (2002). His practice transforms archival material into new work, recovering the lost histories of Los Angeles’s marginalized communities and providing a deeper understanding of the history that we are taught.

Suné Woods (@constellationmatters) is an artist living in Los Angeles. She received her BFA from University of Miami (1997), and MFA from California College of the Arts (2010). Woods is interested in the breadth of intimacy and how it is achieved and relayed through interpersonal relationships and political events. She uses familial dynamics, speculative narratives, and historical happenings to further underscore this potency.

East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice is a community-based organization that works to facilitate self-advocates in East Los Angeles, Southeast Los Angeles and Long Beach. By providing workshops & trainings about environmental justice, they prepare community members to engage in the decision-making processes that directly impacts their health and quality of life.

LA Waterkeeper safeguards LA’s inland and coastal waters by enforcing laws and empowering communities. Along with hundreds of other Waterkeeper Organizations, our movement works for swimmable, drinkable and fishable waterways worldwide.

Follow them to keep up on their work, and stay tuned for more on the Ideal X!