Watts Community “Unity Under The Sun” Mural Unveiling
A new 200-foot mural entitled “Unity Under the Sun” was unveiled at the Watts Historic Train Station on Saturday, March 4th, presented by LA vs Hate in partnership with nonprofit Build Plus Community Marketplace. The mural, created in collaboration by local Los Angeles artists Misteralek and Showzart, spans the walls surrounding the train station and conveys a message of diversity, love, and honoring the cultural history of the Watts community.
The mural unveiling was celebrated at a community event with over 250 attendees where representatives from LA vs Hate gathered with County leaders and several Watts community leaders to share insight on the history and culture of Watts.
Among the speakers at the event were Tim McOsker, LA City Councilmember, District 15; Robin Toma, Director, and Fidel Rodriguez, Senior Human Relations Consultant of the LA County Commission on Human Relations and LA vs Hate; Daude Sherrills, CEO of Joblot and Board Member of Build Plus Community Marketplace; Ms. Wahjeha Bila; Mr. Arturo Ybarra; Dr. Loni Cupchoy and Dr. Dawn A. Lewis, California State University, Los Angeles; and Ron Wilkins, Historian. The celebration also featured performances by a group of African drummers, Inu Olorun; Aztec dancers, Danza Mexica; Zhe, a professional violinist, and live music by DJ Orator.
“Unity Under the Sun” depicts many cultural and historical symbols that showcase a global, multicultural narrative of resilience, integrity, and dignity in pursuing harmony with the Earth, ourselves, and one another. The illustrations reflect the arduous yet beautiful human journey toward our collective unity under the sun.
The mural features celebrated members of the Watts community like Simon Rodia, builder of the Watts Towers; Wajeha Bilal, Executive Director, Build Plus Community Marketplace, a celebrated community leader who has dedicated her work to advocating for the people of Watts and Arturo Ybarra, Executive Director of the Watts Century Latino Organization. LA Mayor Karen Bass is also depicted in the mural, celebrating her legacy as a community activist in South Central as the founder of Community Coalition. The mural highlights diverse members of the Watts community and reflects back the remarkable accomplishments of a region now led by an all-female County Board of Supervisors and Mayor.
We are grateful for the partnerships and work that was done to bring this mural to life and we hope it serves as a reminder of the power that art has in representing our past, inspiring our future, and uniting us despite our differences.
