Murals Add to Color of Los Angeles

Los Angeles is famous for its murals. The artwork covers the sides of buildings and bridges over busy roads. They add color and personality to the city.

Many people drive by a huge mural of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra every day as they go to or from work. The mural is easily seen from a major road near the city center.

Kent Twitchell created the mural in 1991. Twenty years earlier, he painted another mural on the side of a two-floor house.

"I decided to paint my favorite actor -- Steve McQueen. You know, I, I didn't fancy myself to be some heavy-duty modernist artist. I just painted what felt good to me."

Photographs of that Steve McQueen mural made Kent Twitchell famous.

His other works include a work in honor of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and paintings of America's founding fathers. Some important murals, however, have been painted over or damaged.

"I was so na?ve I thought I was living in Florence, and that people would just appreciate it and, and love it. But that didn't turn out to be the case in many instances, and a lot of the, the great L.A. murals are gone now."

Some historic art in Los Angeles has been repaired. Leslie Rainer is with the Getty Conservation Institute. She says experts carefully repaired a mural from 1932 by visiting Mexican artist David Alfaro Siqueiros.

"He painted this very controversial image of a crucified central figure with an eagle looming above him, and some revolutionaries aiming their rifles at the eagle."

She says the message of the painting is not clear. The eagle could represent the United States or Mexico. Each country has chosen the bird as its national symbol. But local leaders objected to the image, so workers painted over the Siqueiros mural. Yet the mural served to motivate and influence other artists over the past half century.

Artist Lydia Emily uses wall art to express a social message. In one mural, she tells the story of a victim of the sex trade. The artist says her work shows the face of the young woman named Jessica and a bird that represents freedom.

"I did an interview with Jessica where I learned her entire story -- how she was kidnapped, how she was sexually trafficked for her whole life, how she was rescued, how she became who she is today. And then I tried to paint the narrative."

Lydia Emily also painted a mural in Skid Row, a neighborhood where many homeless people live. It shows an African woman of the Masai tribe and native birds of Kenya. The artist says the image represents the difficult life of the world's indigenous, native, peoples.

Los Angeles officials once opposed murals and other street art. Now they are providing support, as long as the owner of the property gives permission. Officials recently eased rules about street murals in an effort to get more art and color in the city.

词汇解析

color

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.颜色;彩色;颜料

vt.渲染;把 ... 涂颜色

vi.脸红;着色;影响，左右

=colour(英)

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

That's rather an effective use of color.

这种使用颜色的手法效果相当好。

用作及物动词 (vt.)

I'd like you to color the place up a bit.

我希望你把这地方装得鲜艳一些。

用作不及物动词 (vi.)

She felt the color flamed up in her cheek.

她感到自己的脸红了。

appreciate

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

vt.欣赏;赏识;感激;领会;意识到

vi.增值

参考例句

用作及物动词 (vt.)

I've decided to learn photography in order that I may better appreciate the beauty of nature.

我决定学摄影以便能更好地欣赏自然的美。

I would greatly appreciate it if you would send me the application forms as soon as possible.

若能尽快寄来申请表格,我将不胜感激。

用作不及物动词 (vi.)

Our house has appreciated by 50% in the last two years.

在过去的两年中,我们的房子增值了50%25。

motivate

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

vt.激发(兴趣或欲望);给与动机

参考例句

用作及物动词 (vt.)

He is just sitting there doing nothing. He needs to be motivated.

他坐在那儿什么也不干,他需要一点动力去激发他。

victim

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.受害者;受骗者;牺牲

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

She fell an easy victim to his temptation.

她经不起他的诱惑，轻易地被骗了。

He was the victim of injustice.

他是不公平的牺牲者。

observer

难度：2星扩展词汇，属常用10000词

英汉解释

n.观察者

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

Each observer's prediction has been borne out.

每个观察者的预料已被证实了。

tribe

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.部落;族;一伙人

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

A council of elders governs the tribe.

有个叫长老会的组织治理这个部落。

property

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.财产;所有物;地产，房地产;性质;道具

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

But you do not have the right to initiate force against the life, liberty and property of others.

但是,你没有发起强占其他人生命,自由和所有物的权利。

He performed on a studio theatre, with bare stage bounded by black curtains and with no stage properties.

他在露天剧院表演,黑帷幕围着光秃秃的舞台,没有舞台道具。