Painting Los Angeles History: Conversation and Workshop with Barbara Carrasco

Experience an intimate evening of conversation and creativity with Chicana artist Barbara Carrasco and her landmark mural, L.A. History: A Mexican Perspective (1981). Carrasco will share the inspiration, development, and challenges behind the 80-foot mural, followed by a hands-on workshop. Drawing from Carrasco's artistic approach and their own personal narratives, participants will create unique paper vignettes. Join us for this meaningful and creative night! Registration is limited.

About LA History: A Mexican Perspective

Barbara Carrasco's 1981 mural, L.A. History: A Mexican Perspective, narrates Los Angeles's story across 43 panels woven into the hair of la Reina de Los Ángeles (the queen of Los Angeles). Commissioned for the 1981 bicentennial of the city, the project was halted after Carrasco refused to remove 14 "controversial" depictions, including the internment of Japanese Americans, the 1943 Zoot Suit Riots, and the whitewashing of David Alfaro Siqueiros's 1932 mural, América Tropical. Carrasco's monumental mural highlights Los Angeles's complicated history and rich culture, and concludes with a look to the future with a group portrait of contemporary Angelenos.

About the Artist:  Barbara Carrasco

Barbara Carrasco is an artist and muralist. Her works have been exhibited in the U.S. and Europe. She received her M.F.A. from California Institute of the Arts and her B.F.A. from UCLA. Her mural sketches are in the Permanent Collection of Works on Paper at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. A permanent collection of her papers is archived at Stanford University Special Collections. Carrasco was appointed UC Regents Professor at UC Riverside in 2002. Carrasco is a board member of the Dolores Huerta Foundation. In 2008, Girl Scouts created a merit patch based on Carrasco’s image of Dolores Huerta. Carrasco is also included in the documentary film Dolores. In 2017, she received the Leadership in the Arts award from MALDEF. 

What to Expect

• 5:30–6:30 pm: Refreshments and coffee
• 6:30–7:00 pm: Conversation with Barbara Carrasco
• 7:00–8:00 pm: Workshop: Guests design vignettes inspired by the mural
• 8:00–8:30 pm: Group share, discussion, and Q&A with Barbara Carrasco
• 8:30–8:45 pm: Closing remarks and conclusion