| History Walk on the Blvd |
When you think of art and local history, trash receptacles don't
immediately come to mind. One of Los Angeles' oldest neighborhoods
- Atwater Village - is changing that, celebrating local history by
festooning concrete trash receptacles with decorative tiles featuring
photos of local landmarks.
"We think something as mundane as a sidewalk trash bin can in fact
create a sense of civic pride and celebration of our history through art,"
said Sandra Caravella, local resident and founding member of Friends
of Atwater Village (FAV), a local organization formed to improve the
neighborhood through such projects.
"Atwater Village was once home to LA's great tile factories, including
Franciscan Tile and others," said Sandra. "So when we looked for a
solution to all the trash that accumulates on Glendale Boulevard - one
of our main business strips - we thought about our neighborhood
having created so much beauty through tile, and tying it back to those
roots."
Friends of Atwater Village and the Atwater Griffith Park Chamber of
Commerce partnered with local artist Katrina Alexy to create tile inserts
on eight concrete receptacles that feature black-and-white photos from
the 1920's through the 1950's celebrating well-known local landmarks
such as the Van de Kamp's Bakery and the Tam O'Shanter Restaurant,
as well as neighborhood jewels like Vince's Market and Luis Lopez
Automotive. White tiles feature black & white photographs of historic
sites, and are surrounded by decorative tiles that harkens back to a
bygone era when Atwater played a major role in the arts & crafts tile
movement.
immediately come to mind. One of Los Angeles' oldest neighborhoods
- Atwater Village - is changing that, celebrating local history by
festooning concrete trash receptacles with decorative tiles featuring
photos of local landmarks.
"We think something as mundane as a sidewalk trash bin can in fact
create a sense of civic pride and celebration of our history through art,"
said Sandra Caravella, local resident and founding member of Friends
of Atwater Village (FAV), a local organization formed to improve the
neighborhood through such projects.
"Atwater Village was once home to LA's great tile factories, including
Franciscan Tile and others," said Sandra. "So when we looked for a
solution to all the trash that accumulates on Glendale Boulevard - one
of our main business strips - we thought about our neighborhood
having created so much beauty through tile, and tying it back to those
roots."
Friends of Atwater Village and the Atwater Griffith Park Chamber of
Commerce partnered with local artist Katrina Alexy to create tile inserts
on eight concrete receptacles that feature black-and-white photos from
the 1920's through the 1950's celebrating well-known local landmarks
such as the Van de Kamp's Bakery and the Tam O'Shanter Restaurant,
as well as neighborhood jewels like Vince's Market and Luis Lopez
Automotive. White tiles feature black & white photographs of historic
sites, and are surrounded by decorative tiles that harkens back to a
bygone era when Atwater played a major role in the arts & crafts tile
movement.
| An educational and beautification community project by Friends of Atwater Village Atwater Griffith Park Chamber of Commerce |
Katrina Alexy (the Artist), Luis Lopez (Chamber President), and Cesar
Portillo (FAV President)
Portillo (FAV President)
| Special Thanks to... Carolyn Cole Los Angeles Public Library Photo Archives Liz Rosen Mila Tiles Joey Ranieri Mortarless Building Supply |
About the Artist..
Katrina Alexy was born and raised in LA. She has been working as an artist for over fifteen years both in the theatrical
arts and the visual arts exhibiting at galleries throughout Los Angeles. Katrina has received art grants locally and state
wide, her most recent grant being from the California Arts Council as an artist in residence creating public artworks for
the city of Los Angeles and the Fowler Art Museum. Her mosaic work can be seen at Disney Concert Hall where she
worked on the massive Rose Sculpture in the garden. Her latest permanent public artworks can be seen hanging at the
new Edendale Library and at the corner of Sunset and Echo Park Ave where she designed a bus stop. Katrina has been
an artist in residence at Metropolitan State Mental Hospital for 8 years. She is currently working on a public art piece for
Palm Desert using over a 1000 recycled golf balls. She enjoys working with the public on projects that enhance their
communities. Katrina can be reached at kalexy@juno.com
Katrina Alexy was born and raised in LA. She has been working as an artist for over fifteen years both in the theatrical
arts and the visual arts exhibiting at galleries throughout Los Angeles. Katrina has received art grants locally and state
wide, her most recent grant being from the California Arts Council as an artist in residence creating public artworks for
the city of Los Angeles and the Fowler Art Museum. Her mosaic work can be seen at Disney Concert Hall where she
worked on the massive Rose Sculpture in the garden. Her latest permanent public artworks can be seen hanging at the
new Edendale Library and at the corner of Sunset and Echo Park Ave where she designed a bus stop. Katrina has been
an artist in residence at Metropolitan State Mental Hospital for 8 years. She is currently working on a public art piece for
Palm Desert using over a 1000 recycled golf balls. She enjoys working with the public on projects that enhance their
communities. Katrina can be reached at kalexy@juno.com
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