“Allende” Originally created by Charles Felix has been recently restored by Mario Torero, Guillermo Rosette, and Norma Montoya. Above: Photo by Todd Stands Above: Photo by Lawrence Costales
After a long hearing from the Council, DCA, City Planning, and concerned muralists, we were able to let loose and have some smiles for the camera in beautiful City hall.Norma Montoya with Council Member, Ed Reyes, District 1
Photo taken on the day of the awards ceremony. Norma Montoya with Salvador Roberto Torres Chairman of Chicano Park Arts Council Inc.
Estrada Courts Housing Projects Activity Center; City Terrace Malabar Library; Tribute to the Late Rosa Parks at Hollywood Cemetery Forever Portrait by Mario Torero;
Mural by Norma Montoya and daughter Yamilette Montoya Duarte 2001. Commissioned by Tony Sperl and dedicated to Rev. Phil Aguilar of Set Free Ministries. Located in Little Tokyo in the parking lot between MOCA and 1st street.
A 8×300 foot panel wall painted with Avalon Gardens Housing Project children ages 12-17. Panel wall is for the construction of the new science center. The mural begins with children aboard a helium balloon to watch the creation. A child is in a space craft to enter the universe, thereafter he travels through ice, ocean,...
A floor and wall installation with a five foot fabric frijolito character. A path of water outlined in pinto beans trails the gallery floor. Large painted pinto beans serve as walking stones to guide the viewer through the exhibit. Four wall panels with actual beans representing the latino race take over of the U.S....
Two murals and 14 art workshops were for the male students of Nidorf Juvenile Hall through the Los Angeles-based nonprofit corporation, Theatre Of Hearts, Inc.
Photo by Lawrence Costales The Veteranos I never expected to get the biggest learning experience of my life from a homeboy or homegirl. The Estrada Courts Housing Project taught me my first lessons in social work, leadership, and community relations. Also, they taught me about survival and bravery. The community was filled with artists,...
Where there are girls, there are boys, and it became difficult to separate them in groups, so our teams overlapped. Although I supervised many projects with Charles Felix, most murals carried the name Felix and the crew. After gaining respect, I was given my first inside wall called “Dream World”. Felix and I...
Being a muralist in a housing project has many opportunities to meet a variety of people from all walks of life, but few artists take that time to bond with the community. In Estrada Courts, there were many skilled artists, laborers and craftsmen all living in poverty housing. My attachment to the people left me...
Photo by Lawrence Costales I took the character of the boy and girl bean to New Mexico on several photo shoots to get reacquainted with my historical roots. I have four generations of cousins from the Mesilla Valley. There, I had the opportunity to perform publicly at the San Miguel cemetery, old adobe homes, cattle grazing fields and the San...
