Surrounded by Art: The Murals of City Terrace

Students from the City Terrace Public Library filmed and edited this short documentary about the murals that decorate their East Los Angeles neighborhood. They interviewed muralist Willie Herron, III, Los Angeles Mural Conservancy Director, Isabel Rojas-Williams and City Terrace residents to learn more about the art and the history of their community. 2014 International Family Film Festival YouthFest winner for Best Documentary!

[@suewolfe3898]

I grew up in City Terrace. I know those murals very well! Mr W. Herron is very talented! My big Brother Joe Gonzalez aka Crazy Joe knew him. My brother sadly passed away back in 1997.

[@leticiadelgadillo]

I grew up with Willie as a Kid.

[@sideshowlosrudos8200]

Walked right bye these paintings like a 1000 times always wondered thanks for the knowledge

[@heathersantora]

I love this video - thank you for sharing the rich history of the City Terrace Murals with a larger audience! Fantastic job!!!

[@aliciacabrera-thomas9705]

awesome My first Library Card was from the City Terrace Library The first time I had a "Poor Boy" sandwich -- it was from the Plaza Market so neat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ehonzamusic]

Alicia, just want you to know that I think it is too bad that the video does not state who the artist is who beautified the City Terrace Library with the handmade ceramic tile mural, titled Maya Ofrenda, all the beautifuled tiles all around the building. It is Jose Luis Gonzalez. In fact, Jose Luis Gonzalez created many fine art projects throughout CityTerrace, East Los Angeles and outside California.

[@fonzerellie3518]

Punk Band “The Brat” originated in City Terrace , i think . Great band . Way ahead of their time ....

[@justsayin5865]

Born and raised in City Terrace on Rogers Street. Walked down that alley many times with my brother's. Went to the old St Lucy's and the old library. I was in the second grade when they built Robert F Kennedy Elementary,Mrs. Kim's class. Most of those stores were Jewish owned like the five-and-dime. My favorite memory was the Helmsman.

[@markguerrero8328]

Great job students! These murals are great and very important to preserve.

[@DavidPerez-xo7nh]

Born and raised on CT/ Townsend..Seen the filming of Cheech and Chong, "Up n Smoke"..👊

[@marthaavila718]

I knew your your bother Johnny. Great work Willie❤️

[@reneangulotrujillo1]

viva L.A. raza cosmica!

[@khuuphotos]

I love street art and murals. I am going to Boyle Heights, East LA AND City of Terrace to check out these awesome street art. Let me know if you think there are any murals I definitely don’t want to miss. Please include store/bldg names or cross streets.

[@felix64able]

Same i've been googling murals in L.A. and it give you for the most part a long list of murals and where they are located

[@gerardov.9716]

Willie has talent...

[@lizbeth8477]

I live close by there

[@Blunnie]

Lizys WORLD same i live in this city

[@sideshowlosrudos8200]

Crazy i got my bike stolen from in front of Mercado hidalgo when I was 10 went for tortillas took like 15 seconds came out bike was gone miss my neighborhood

[@catanoclint]

Puro east los angeles y boyle heights y Lincoln heights y tambein el sereno. City Terrace is East Los Angeles too

[@miriamsills461]

personally, I thought it was alot of fun filming all these shots for this documentary

[@khuuphotos]

I love street art and murals. I am going to Boyle Heights, East LA AND City of Terrace to check out these awesome street art. Let me know if you think there are any murals I definitely don’t want to miss. Please include store/bldg names or cross streets.

[@gilberttorres2372]

i hope that in the future these murals do get preserved still because they give out education and a lot of pride for your raza

[@reneangulotrujillo]

Viva L.A. raza cosmica!

[@quesogrande7bigcheezy832]

They need to fix the alley from the movie blood in blood out we’re miklo sees the Virgin Mary and he runs up the stairs

[@judiangelloveu]

California

[@jesuschavez3987]

I Was Born In Terrance 😎😁

[@esmeraldasalazar8474]

Omg I live here

[@carlosochoa2255]

Esmeralda how is it there do u really like it i would like to buy a house there

[@heathersantora]

@@carlosochoa2255 This is THE BEST neighborhood in LA. We LOVE it here.

[@fad23]

Homesick

[@playerhater4life289]

😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@ehonzamusic]

I would like to know why Willie Herron says in this interview that he has had NO formal training, that he is self-taught, yet I read in his Wikipedia that he attended Otis Art Institute...hmmm! So, which is the truth? Isabel, this makes me doubt your credibility and/or facts.

[@aliciacabrera-thomas9705]

EhonzaMusic here is a link that will help you Willie did attend OTIS but his talent was his own ~ he did not got to school to RECOGNIZE or Build his inherent talent. There is no myth making here. Go to Mr. Herron's biography. Go to the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles & research the artists that came before. One of the great ones is my cousin Chaz & his work hangs in the Chicago Institutes of Art. Our culture is great. City Terrace is home to many artistes. Rather than tear down others ~~ recognize that the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles is keeping our Murals of the past Alive & ensuring that YOUNG NEW ARTISTES have a voice........ Do not denigrate your own culture or neighborhood City Terrace informed many of us w/all that is there & remarks like your's serve no one. www.muralconservancy.org/artist/willie-herr%C3%B3n-iii

[@aliciacabrera-thomas9705]

and are you aware that city terrace is now home to one our wonderful playwrights? Richard Montoya of Culture Clash now makes this great part of el Este de Los Angeles his home? Our Murals ARE our city. Educate yourself on the biographies of our artists not VIA wikipedia but by going out to meet those who are still here with us. Ask them ..........talk to them..........learn from them.............