Levi Ponce

Levi Ponce
Born	Pacoima, Los Angeles, California, US
Alma mater	California State University (Northridge)
Known for	Painting
Website	www.leviponce.com

Levi Ponce is an American artist noted for his public murals throughout urban areas of the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas in Southern California.

Early life and career

Ponce was born in the Pacoima neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. He studied animation and graphic design at California State University (Northridge), and received a bachelor's degree in art.^[1][2] Ponce was influenced by his father, Hector Ponce, a sign painter and muralist whose work appears on many storefronts in Pacoima.^[3]

Levi Ponce's "Luminaries of Pantheism" in Venice, California

In 2011, Ponce began installing murals on the sides of buildings in poorer neighborhoods of the San Fernando Valley.^[4]

Ponce is noted for his influence on what has become known as "Mural Mile", a strip of Van Nuys Boulevard in Pacoima once covered in graffiti and defaced storefronts. Ponce began painting murals along walls facing the street, and was joined by other artists.^[3][5]

Ponce's art sometimes take the form of a community project, as volunteers are welcome to assist with public murals.^[2] "These are our artists here in Pacoima", said Ponce, "they don't have galleries. They don't have schools or universities and museums. When I say come help paint, it's like a gift to them".^[3]

Canvas works by Ponce have been exhibited at The MACAY in Merida, the Craft and Folk Art Museum in Los Angeles, and at California State University in Northridge.^[2][6]

In 2014, MSN Latino listed Ponce as one of "10 Latinos to Watch in 2014", describing his murals as "a truly marvelous and original way of beautifying the city, street by street".^[7]

In 2015, Ponce was commissioned to paint "Luminaries of Pantheism" for an area in Venice, California that receives over a million onlookers per year. The mural painting depicts Albert Einstein, Alan Watts, Baruch Spinoza, Terence McKenna, Carl Jung, Carl Sagan, Emily Dickinson, Nikola Tesla, Friedrich Nietzsche, Ralph Waldo Emerson, W.E.B. Du Bois, Henry David Thoreau, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Rumi, Adi Shankara, and Lao Tzu.^[8]

Works

Title, date, location	Description
Pacoima Trejo December 2011 13403 Van Nuys Boulevard, Pacoima	Mural of actor Danny Trejo on a wall facing a restaurant. Pacoima's Christmas parade followed a route along which the mural could be viewed, with Trejo the parade's grand marshal. Painted using brushes and acrylic house paint.[2][3]
Sunny Slopes March 2012 11000 Dronfield Avenue, Pacoima	Mural at Pacoima Little League Baseball and Softball Park. Painted using brushes and acrylic house paint.[2][9][10]
The Pacoima Art Revolution June 2012 13349 Van Nuys Boulevard, Pacoima	Mural of Mona Lisa holding a sombrero and a dagger, representing La Adelita, a female warrior from a Mexican folk tale.[3] Painted by Ponce, with assistance from R@H and Kristy Sandoval.[2][10]
I Was Born in East Valley November 2012 13958 Van Nuys Boulevard, Pacoima	A tribute to the East Valley and those who grew up there. Featured is Cheech Marin, with landmarks including Whiteman Airport, four towers in Sunland, and a plane representing the one that crash into Pacoima Junior High School in 1957. Painted by Ponce, with assistance from Steven Acevedo, Erica Friend, Monica Cano, Leo Tejeda, Sesor, the Mendez Family, the Rhee Family, Alee Ponce, and the Alvarez Sisters, using brushes and acrylic house paint.[2][10]
The Day The Music Died November 2012 13433 Van Nuys Boulevard, Pacoima	A tribute to Ritchie Valens of Pacoima, who died in a 1959 plane crash. A 1959 Chevy is depicted driving through Iowa, alluding to a Don McLean song about the incident. Painted by Ponce, with assistance from Sidro Candelario, Leonardo Tejeda, Alee Ponce, Erica Friend, Monica Cano, using brushes and acrylic house paint.[2][10]
Lady of the Valley December 2012 14015 Van Nuys Boulevard, Pacoima	A reflection of the East Valley culture. Painted by Ponce, with assistance from "The Gr818ers ft. Serv One", using brushes and acrylic house paint.[2][10]
Olmos February 2013 13349 Van Nuys Boulevard, Pacoima	A portrait of Edward James Olmos, with graffiti-style imagery. Painted by Ponce, with assistance from Mute, Sesor, and others, using brushes, acrylic house paint, and aerosol cans.[10]
Pacoimeras (Pacoima Neighborhood Mural) February 2013 10335 Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Pacoima	A reflection of the Pacoima neighborhood, with an emphasis on the women who live there. The lower half of the mural features two women lounging in a painted field of the national flowers of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and the United States.[11] Monarch butterflies symbolize migration, and in a stained-glass window are loteria cards, reflecting traditional Latino culture. Painted using brushes and acrylic house paint.[2][10]
The Girl With the Hoop Earring March 2013 14001 Van Nuys Boulevard, Arleta	Painted on the concrete face of a liquor store. Ponce said he wanted to "bring Vermeer to Pacoima", referring to Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer.[3] Painted using brushes and acrylic house paint.[2][10]
La Lady Liberty July 2013 13083 Van Nuys Boulevard, Pacoima	Painted by Levi Ponce, with assistance from Isidro Candelario, Manny Velazquez, Anat Ronen, Thomas Prado, and Rosa, using brushes and acrylic paint.[10]
Tribute to Michelangelo August 2013 7041 Reseda Boulevard, Reseda	A homage to Michelangelo, painted on a wall of Continental Art Supplies, using brushes and Modern Masters acrylic paint.[1][10]
Photos y Recuerdos November 2013 on Day of the Dead Plaza de la Raza in Lincoln Park, 3540 North Mission Road, Lincoln Heights	Painted using brushes and acrylic house paint.[10]
Logic and Imagination December 2013 18238 Sherman Way, Reseda	Mural of Albert Einstein installed on the back wall of the Magnolia Science Academy in Reseda. Ponce's intent was to raise awareness in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, while presenting an inspiring role model to students. Painted using brushes and acrylic house paint.[1][10]
Dali Comes to Pacoima 2013 13708 Filmore Street, Pacoima	Portrait of Salvador Dalí, using acrylic house paint.[10][12]
Soliloquy February 2014 4900 Lankershim Boulevard, Los Angeles	Portrait of a woman holding a scull. Painted using brushes and acrylic paint.[10]
Luminaries of Pantheism April 2015 2201 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA	Portrait of a Albert Einstein, Alan Watts, Baruch Spinoza, Terence McKenna, Carl Jung, Carl Sagan, Emily Dickinson, Nikola Tesla, Friedrich Nietzsche, Ralph Waldo Emerson, W.E.B. Du Bois, Henry David Thoreau, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Rumi, Adi Shankara, and Lao Tzu.[8]

References

1. Gazzar, Brenda (January 24, 2014). "Artist Levi Ponce to Unveil Albert Einstein Mural in Reseda on Monday". Los Angeles Daily News.
2. "Levi Ponce". Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles. Retrieved March 2014.
3. Shyong, Frank (August 23, 2013). "Pacoima Muralist Uses Paint and Persuasion". Los Angeles Times.
4. Shyong, Frank (23 August 2013). "Muralist is Helping to Reclaim Pacoima's Image". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
5. Mural Mile in Pacoima with Levi Ponce. FOX 11 Los Angeles. Apr 3, 2013.
6. "Alistan Sus Grandes Obras". Diario de Yucatan. Jul 10, 2014.
7. Rodas de Juárez, Celeste (January 10, 2014). "10 Latinos to Watch in 2014". MSN Lationo.
8. "New mural in Venice! "Luminaries of Pantheism"". Venice Paparazzi. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
9. "Coming Together to Improve our Community and Provide a Better Future for our Children!". Pacoima Little League. Retrieved March 2014.
10. "Mural Gallery". Levi Ponce. Retrieved March 2014.
11. Fuentes, Ed (March 14, 2013). "Muralist Levi Ponce Uses Van Nuys Boulevard as a Gallery". KCET.
12. Adamek, Pauline (2013). "Color My World". Ventura Blvd.

External links

• Panorama of Soliloquy
• Panorama of Logic and Imagination