The Madison Park Mural Project is a community art initiative designed to build relationships between the non-profit GREEN-MPNA, local residents, and the broader community. By hosting workshops and creating murals, we engaged residents in the artistic process, incorporating their input to design symbols that resonate with the neighborhood’s predominantly Mexican-American culture. The chosen symbols—the Jacaranda flower, Marigold flower, and Green Parrot—reflect cultural significance and seasonal change, inspired by the vibrant colors of traditional Mexican folk art. These designs also feature hidden meanings, such as a parrot wearing a necklace made of blue rays to reflect the Madison Park logo, and another with a pink lotus flower to honor the local Vietnamese community. Workshops encouraged neighbors to paint personalized medallions, fostering a sense of ownership and pride, while the murals—created with the help of volunteers—capture the community’s identity and spirit on six different walls, serving as lasting cultural landmarks that celebrate the area’s unique heritage and unity. After the grant ended, I handed the project over to my nonprofit partner and a local artist. Together, they’ve already completed three additional murals—proof that this model is sustainable, transferable, and community-powered.
Leaving the Madison Park Mural Project was not easy. Over the course of the year, I fell in love with the people, the spirit, and the resilience of the neighborhood. What began as an art initiative quickly became something deeper—a shared journey of creativity, connection, and pride. I’m endlessly grateful to every volunteer who showed up, gave their time, energy, and heart to help bring this vision to life. Without you, none of this would have been possible. This project belongs to you. Thank you for welcoming me into your community. Keep building, keep creating, and keep shining.
This year long project was generously funded by the California Arts Council’s Creative Corps Grant and distributed by the Long Beach Arts Council.
The first mural of the Madison Park Mural Project was completed in December 2023. Spanning 5 feet by 300 feet, it featured 98 hand-stenciled images painted with acrylic by over 150 dedicated volunteers. This mural marked the beginning of a year-long community collaboration, using art as a tool to celebrate identity, build connections, and transform overlooked spaces in Madison Park. Once the mural was finished, the energy it sparked was undeniable—the neighborhood couldn’t wait for the next one. It became clear that this project had started something meaningful and lasting.
The second mural of the Madison Park Mural Project was completed in March 2024. Measuring 7 feet by 150 feet, it featured 94 stenciled images painted with acrylic by more than 200 volunteers. Unlike the first, this mural was located along a much busier street, drawing significantly more public attention and curiosity throughout the process. The increased visibility sparked deeper conversations around community identity and pride. Building on the momentum of the first mural, this second piece brought even more neighbors together, strengthening connections and reinforcing the power of collective creativity to transform and uplift shared spaces.
The third installment of the Madison Park Mural Project was completed in April 2024, directly across the street from the second mural. Measuring 7 feet by 150 feet and featuring 94 stenciled images painted with acrylic by over 200 volunteers, this mural held special significance. Located on the opposite side of Edinger Avenue—a major street that divides the north and south sides of Madison Park—it served as a symbolic and physical bridge between the two parts of the neighborhood. By activating both sides of the street, the project reinforced unity, visibility, and shared identity within the community.
The final mural of the Madison Park Mural Project was completed in June 2024. Though smaller in scale—measuring 5 feet by 55 feet with 47 stenciled images—it had just as much impact as the larger works. Painted with acrylic by over 50 dedicated volunteers, this mural was installed along McFadden Avenue, another highly visible and well-trafficked street in the neighborhood. Its location brought continued attention to the project and reaffirmed the power of public art to spark pride and connection. As the closing piece of the series, it served as a vibrant reminder of what community collaboration can achieve.
Workshops: Using a stencil, neighbors paint a medallion for themselves, a friend or for their favorite local business. These medallions are 12” birch plywood circles primed white, attached on a chain that can be hung in a window or on a screw/nail on a wall. To keep a consistent identity the same paint, stencil design and method is used. Workshops were held every other month in parks and Green-MPNA’s office.
short video on the workshops
Stencils are the perfect method for community murals. Utilizes the simplicity of a two-part stencil makes the project user-friendly and achieves a consistent outcome.
I utilized pencil drawings, watercolor sketches and acrylic painted studies to come up with the right look for the symbols that represent Madison Park. All the while being conscience to keep the artwork simple enough for non-artists to paint.
