Occupy LA Activists Show Art at Latino Museum

Works of art created during the Occupy LA encampment outside City Hall are on display now through March.

Ana Pescador had been at a meeting at Los Angeles City Hall recently when she had a thought. She had heard so much about Occupy LA and wanted to see what it was like for herself.

"To my surprise," she said. "They were working on beautiful pieces of art." Pescador is the Executive Director of the Latino Museum and soon started talking to the Occupiers about doing an art show of their collective works. It wasn't easy to convince the group of people who had been living outside for their cause to trust someone. "I was a stranger in a suit. I was a contradiction to their message."

But they soon realized she was on their side and thus came the idea for "We Art the 99 %" at the Latino Museum in downtown Los Angeles. Pescador has collected about 150 works from artists who participated in the movement.

The Occupy LA protest began on Oct. 1 around City Hall and was shut down by Los Angeles Police Department Nov. 28.

Antonio Rivas, joined in on the OccupyLA demonstration shortly after it started. His painting depicts a bomb ready to explode and hands to stop it. He said that almost the entire two months he was there, he and his friends were making art. Three of his friends were not able to make it to the show opening last week because, according to Rivas, they were arrested that afternoon transporting their art to the show.

Yvonne de la Vega is a poet and Occupier. During the Nov. 18 raid she left her painting there and another artist picked it up and saved it. It was on display at the museum along with the new painting she made for the show. She said she is amazed by the art work and the passion of the people at Occupy LA. "I was there because it was THE revolution," she said of the movement. "I felt like this time it was the real thing."

The art work that includes sculpture, paintings, drawings, and writing are displayed in the lobby of the museum, which is free. The exhibition that will run through March.

"We're very happy to be part of this historic moment in Los Angeles," Pescador said.

We Art the 99%
Presented by the Latino Museum of History Art and Culture and
Occupy Los Angeles Community "Artivists"

Hours:
Tuesday – Sunday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Cost:
Free

Yvonne Condes is the editor and cofounder of MomsLA.com and founder of YvonneinLA.com.