TEN Public Artworks along the CicLAvia Route

Omoide No Shotokyo art installation on Little Tokyo sidewalks - see No. 5 below

In honor of our 10-10-10 CicLAvia date, CicLAvia is running top ten listings! Below are ten pieces of public art that caught our eye along the CicLAvia route. CicLAvia is a great time to check these out – step back and get a good look, without worrying about getting run over! 

TEN PUBLIC ARTWORKS ALONG THE CICLAVIA ROUTE 

Undiscovered America mural on 4th - photo by Jenn Su

1. Undiscovered America (mural)
1992, Earth Crew
843 East 4th Street

This impressive-scale aerosol mural depicts Native American imagery from  nations up and down the west coast, including pre-Colombian Mexico. It was painted by Erik “Duke” Montenegro, Benjamin James Frank, Jr., Rojelio “Angst” Cabral, and Joseph “Nuke” Montalvo. More information at Mural Conservancy L.A.

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Circular Mosaic

2. Mosaic on 4th Place

Is this your art? We haven’t found out who did this circular mosaic piece, located on an L.A. County parking structure. We think it may have to do with Artshare located next door across Hewitt Street. 

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Chiune Sugihara Memorial

3. Chiune Sugihara Memorial
2002, Ramon G. Velazco
on Central Avenue north of 2nd Street, Little Tokyo

This life-size bronze portrait sculpture depicts Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat who, while stationed in Lithuania during WWII, saved 10,000 Jews from being sent to concentration camps and almost certain death. Sugihara is portrayed handing a passport, as he did to Jewish refugees.