After attending the press opening of this exhibit, Painting in the River of Los Angeles: Judy Baca and the Great Wall, last October, I could not miss the closing media event on July 16. Baca herself talked about the various figures and events depicted in the 130 feet long and 13 feet high canvas, that her devoted co-workers rolled out as she spoke. It was an amazing feat of engineering and creativity.
We got to see full size the painted heroes of the Farm Workers movement, Cesar Chavez and the grape boycott, Dolores Huerta on her bullhorn, the Brown Berets and the East L.A. Student Walkouts of 1968.
The Watts Rebellion of 1965 with Richard Wyatt painting Cecil Fergerson, and the Black Panthers People’s Free Food Program for the elderly and the children here in Los Angeles.
We had seen renderings of these sections, read my article here, but more were added, when the painting process was extended by seven weeks from June 4 to July 21.
Judy Baca at LACMA. Watts Rebellion. Black Panthers. July 16, 2024.
The Cooper Do-nuts Riot, the uprising when police harassed LGBT people at a donut café, inserted here as happening in 1969.
Judy Baca at LACMA. Cooper Do-nuts Riots. July 16, 2024
Titled Altar because of the religious icons on top of the TV set, this section depicts Baca’s home, with BW photos of John Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, Malcom X, Martin Luther King.
Judy Baca at LACMA. Altar. July 16, 2024
The first Gay Pride Parade in Los Angeles in 1970, featuring the so-called dykes on wheels. Notice the colors of the Pride flag, violet, blue, green, yellow, orange red, with the added feather symbol for two-spirit people, the New Pride Flag with black and brown representing People of Color, the trans flag with baby blue, pink and white stripes.
Judy Baca at LACMA. Gay Parade. July 16, 2024
Even though this installation will come down at LACMA this Sunday July 21, Baca said the work will continue at Bergamot Station, and, if they don’t run our of money, will reach 190 feet covering the 1970s, by 2027, in preparation for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Judy Baca at LACMA. Mural paiinting. 1970 Gay Parade. July 16, 2024.
Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli