By Bill Hendrickson
Sixteen works of art by 14 local artists now grace the concrete “K-Rail” barriers along the east side of North Figueroa Street between Avenue 59 and Avenue 60.
Conceived and spearheaded by Arroyo Arts Collective, the project, dubbed “Good Fences,” is the collective’s latest effort to connect the creative community to the community-at-large. Funding for the project was also a collective effort, including support from the office of Councilmember Gil Cedillo (Council District 1), the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the L.A. Department of Transportation, the L.A. County Arts Commission and the California Arts Council, a state agency.
“I am proud of the beautification of North Figueroa Street with the Good Fences streetscape murals,” said Cedillo. “My collaboration with the Arroyo Arts Collective will allow residents and visitors to Highland Park to enjoy the vibrant work of local artists’ interpretations of vibrant Highland Park.”
Heather Hoggan, co-president and curator of Arroyo Arts, recruited Amy Inouye of Highland Park’s Future Studio, to be the project designer. Inouye found the way to put the different pieces of art into a coherent flowing presentation.
The artists participating in the project included Mary Cheung, Lorena Williams, Pascaline Doucin-Dahlke, Joe Bravo, Yvette Nicole Kolo, Lisa Tomczeszyn, Kevin Hass, Leslie K. Gray, Debra Scacco, Cidne Hart, Michael Arata, Judith Amdur, Yvonne Jongeling, RockRose Gallery Arts Interns Marco Nochebuena Luna, and Adriana Strothers, seniors at Academia Avance Charter High School.
In coming weeks, art will also be installed on the barriers on the west side of Figueroa between Avenue 56 and Avenue 57, said Hoggan.
