The vibrantly colored three-dimensional mural Reflections on the Past, Present & Future of Los Nietos by Louise Griffin on the façade of the library was inspired by conversations with community members, who shared with the artist their strong connection to the middle school property, which is located on the same grounds as the library. They have fond memories of playing at the pond near the school, riding horses in the area and learning about the world through their teachers and Superintendents. The mural’s cascade of leaves represents the beloved old tree that stands in front of the school’s entrance and the tree itself symbolizes the deep roots of the community. Fabricated from powder-coated aluminum, the leaves vary in size, color and in distance from the wall. This distance allows the leaves to provide unique shadows on the wall of the library throughout the day. They are positioned using a mathematical theory called Lindenmayer systems, which is usually used to determine plant development. Adopting a mathematical theory to generate the artwork’s form gives the students an example of how subjects learned in school can be applied in everyday life. As the artwork wraps around the corner of the meeting room wall towards the main entrance, it transitions into colorful panels with historical imagery collected from community members, creating a timeline documenting the area’s rich history while inspiring its future leaders−the middle school students.
The community, proud of its rich history, recently celebrated a 150-year anniversary. During the public engagement, community members shared their aspirations for the new library to become a multigenerational and all-participatory safe place for youth to gather.
Louise Griffin is a Los Angeles-based artist who is transitioning from an architecture to a studio art practice. Her work demonstrates a deep commitment to environmental sustainability and community. This commission will result in her first permanent public art installation. Griffin received her MArch from UCLA and completed her thesis at the Royal Academy of Art, Architecture School, in Copenhagen, Denmark. To learn more about the artist, visit:
www.griffinmade.com.
