Aug 16
Posted by Scott on Saturday Aug 16, 2008 Under Mural

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 |
Jul 15
Posted by Scott on Tuesday Jul 15, 2008 Under Mural

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]
Jul 07
Posted by Scott on Monday Jul 7, 2008 Under Mural

The Word Mural
This mural is titled “The Word” by Kent Twitchell and is found on the side of the science building at Biola University in La Mirada, CA [map]. The mural was originally painted in 1989-90 with the assistance of the Biola art department. “The Word” depicts Christ extending the Bible to the viewer. We learn in John 1 that Christ is the Word made flesh and the Bible is referred to as the Word of God, so I believe the title of the mural is referring to both.

The Word Close-up
The shadow work is fantastic and creates the illusion of a third dimension by showing, in shadow, the Bible in His outstretched hands. The building is two-stories high so I would estimate the height of the mural to be around 30 feet. The width, including the shadow is around 50 feet. [click the images to enlarge]
Jul 05
Posted by Scott on Saturday Jul 5, 2008 Under Mural

Christ Teaching
This mural is called “Christ Teaching” and is found on the grounds of the San Gabriel Mission towards the back of the Campo Santo Cemetery on a wall near the museum [map]. The original was painted by Buckley McGurrin. Hendrik Keyzer, Professor emeritus of chemistry, renovated the mural in 2004.
The Tidings Newspaper said, “The triptych features symbolic images including the Tree of Life, Noah’s Ark and crosses, as well as animals from Eskimo, Australian, South American and African cultures. Many other details make the mural specifically Californian: an image of the first locomotive in California, a verbal musical scale and flowers in the hands of Dominican teaching nuns. Butterflies and moths loosely connect the three panels.”
In the upper left-hand corner is a medallion with the image of Junipero Serra, the Franciscan monk best known for planting the missions in Southern California. The right-hand pane of the mural seems to have an image of St. Gabriel the Archangel. Picture taken with env2 cell phone - no flash - on July 5, 2008. Estimated size is 10 feet tall and 16 feet wide. [click the image to enlarge]