Mural Full

This mural is found on the side of Mr. Pancho’s Market at 6201 Kester in Van Nuys, CA [map] - cross street Delano. The mural contains images of Christ, Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of Solitude (aka Nuestra Señora de la Soledad).

“[Nuestra Señora de la Soledad] The Blessed Virgin Mary is depicted as Our Lady of Sorrows; Mary, garbed in black and white attire, kneeling as she contemplates the Passion of Her Son, Jesus.”

The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a depiction of the apparition of Mary from 16th century Mexico.

Jesus Mural

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Virgin of Soledad

Carmelite Monastery

Carmel of Saint Teresa is a contemplative monastery of consecrated women of the Discalced Carmelite Order (AKA cloistered Carmelite Nuns). Located in Alhambra, CA [map], this monastery was established in 1913 by five nuns from the monastery in St. Louis, Missouri. The monastery and chapel are constructed of red brick with tile roof, this type of architecture being chosen as it was more in keeping with both the history of the Order and of California.

Monastery Chapel

The Carmelites Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles maintain a retreat center near by. In addition, the Carmelite Fathers manage St. Therese Roman Catholic Parish (named after St. Thérèse of Lisieux). The Disclaced Carmelites were formed under the guidance of reformers St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross in the 16th century.

Cross at Cahuenga

[Hat Tip to Hope] This landmark is often referred to as the Hollywood cross. The cross, illuminated at night, sits atop a hill overlooking the 101 freeway in Hollywood directly across the freeway from the Hollywood Bowl complex.

Quoting Hope’s “Lights, Camera, GOD!” blog:

The history of the cross dates back to the 1920’s when an heiress, Christine Wetherill Stevenson, who was instrumental in building the Hollywood Bowl, wanted to build a theater specifically for religious pageants.

… When she died in 1922, Christine Wetherill Stevenson was remembered with a stone cross, which stood atop the hill over-looking the Pilgrimage Theater. [Originally the cross] was lit only during Easter. [in 1965] the cross was damaged by fire and was replaced by a new cross, made of steel and Plexiglas. [By 1984] the cross suffered the detrimental effects of vandalism, followed by a windstorm, which knocked it over. The following year, 1985, volunteers erected a new cross 17-feet in height. In 1993 High Adventure Ministries built the current cross standing 33 feet tall. Finally, in 1997, the Church on the Way took over the care and maintenance of the cross…

The cross sits adjacent to the Ford Amphitheater and with a little effort you can hike up to where it stands.

Retaining Wall

This bas relief (manufactured as it may be) is one of many like it located on the retaining walls that split the lanes of traffic on the 101 freeway in Los Angeles [map]. The city has stripped this image of a Christian Mission of all Christian symbols, but we all know that the missions where hear spreading the Gospel of Christ. It may seem strange to include this relief, but it is a public reminder of Los Angeles’ Christian heritage. I estimate the image to be 4 feet wide and 2 feet tall. The media are concrete and stone - the color is brought in by embedded stones. I took this picture on July 15, 2008 with my enV2 cell phone camera, no flash.

Full Mural

This mural is found on the side of Salazar’s Market at 13306 Rosecrans Ave in Norwalk, CA [map]. The mural contains an image of Mary in her apparition as Our Lady of Guadalupe.

“Our Lady of Guadalupe is a 16th century Roman Catholic icon depicting an apparition of the Virgin Mary. It is Mexico’s most beloved religious and cultural image. Our Lady of Guadalupe’s feast day is celebrated on December 12, commemorating the account of her appearances to Saint Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac near Mexico City” [more]

Our Lady of Guadalupe

The image of Mary is only a part of a larger mural that fills the front wall of the market. I would estimate the height of the mural to be around 20 feet. The width at around 60 feet. [click the images to enlarge]