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Civic Art      
Los Angeles County Arts Commission Arts Education Arts Resources Grants and Professional Growth Ford Theatres Public Special Events
           
 

Ted Watkins Park General Improvement

Artist:
Robin Strayhorn
Title:
Building Community
District:
Second Supervisorial District
Location:
Ted Watkins Memorial Park
1335 East 103rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90002
Department:
Parks and Recreation

Artist rendering
 
Click for larger photos

Located in the heart of South Los Angeles, Ted Watkins Memorial Park was renamed in 1995 to honor Ted Watkins, the founder of the Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC). The park is home to a 27-acre facility that includes a swimming pool, ball field, play and picnic areas, and organized after-school recreational activities. A unique feature in the park is the Promenade of Prominence Walk of Fame, which celebrates the accomplishments of community leaders.

Robin Strayhorn has been commissioned to create a mosaic tile mural for the park's flagpole. The highlights of the mural are a mosaic image of Ted Watkins and a narrative plaque which record his commitment to the Watts community. The remaining panels on the flag pole are colorful images of garden tools which are symbolic of the constantly growing community of Watts.

About the Artist: Robin Strayhorn, who lives in downtown Los Angeles, graduated from UCLA and taught at Markham Middle School in Watts for several years. Strayhorn has completed public art commissions for the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, MTA Metro Art, and the Ontario International Airport. Her work is characterized by rich, colorful, sometimes abstracted human forms and designs rendered in ceramic tile. She is well-known for involving community members in her projects.

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