“Into the Blue,” is featured at the front entrance of the Airport Police Facility.
Photos by SKA Studios, LLC, courtesy of Los Angeles World Airports and the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.
(Los Angeles, CA) – Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), in partnership with the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, is proud to announce the completion of a large outdoor mural on the newly constructed Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Police Facility that reflects the history and significance of the surrounding community.
The mural titled, “Into the Blue,” by Los Angeles artist Francisco Letelier in collaboration with Marybeth Fama, is featured at the front entrance of the Airport Police Facility, located on the northeast corner of Westchester Parkway and Loyola Boulevard. The art is composed of acrylic paint on aluminum composite panels and spans 105-feet wide by 10-feet high along a prominent exterior wall. Including a variety of flora, fauna and figures, the piece utilizes rich symbolism to highlight the history of the community and the Airport Police Department’s commitment to serving the public.
“Los Angeles World Airports is proud to unveil this new, vibrant mural which reflects the mission and values of the Los Angeles Airport Police Division and the history of our local community,” said Justin Erbacci, Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles World Airports. “This incredible mural, ‘Into the Blue,’ wonderfully enhances our new state-of-the-art Airport Police Facility and I am so pleased that this new work of art will be on view for our neighbors, passengers and employees.”
“As the Los Angeles Airport Police Division celebrates 75 years of serving and protecting the traveling public, we also cherish the connections we have grown with our local community, neighbors and passengers,” said Acting Airport Police Chief Tyrone Stallings. “This new home for our sworn officers, security officers, administrative staff and law-enforcement partners has brought us closer than ever to the surrounding community, and we are excited that this beautiful mural further connects us all.”
The mural, which blends imagery from the past and present, allows viewers to travel a visual narrative of the history of the airport and the land around it. The imagery can be categorized into three thematic groups: community, culture and place.
“‘Into the Blue’ offers an opportunity to highlight the rich historical, cultural and geographical resources that create our sense of place in Los Angeles,” said artist Marybeth Fama. “Acknowledging the stories we share builds new ways of understanding one another while creating civic spaces that resonate with possibility.”
Community
Featuring a brilliant color palette, “Into the Blue” celebrates the neighboring community of Westchester, which is part of the Ballona Creek ecosystem. The indigenous Kizh-Gabrieleño people, who are depicted in the mural, lived along the Ballona Creek. Their characteristics as travelers and explorers are symbolic of the people who arrive and depart from LAX today. The depiction of a vaquero, or Mexican cowboy, is meant to represent the Machado family, who established the neighborhood’s early boundaries as Rancho La Ballona.
At the far-right end of the mural, a mountain lion is poised on a cliff. The large cat echoes the bronze lion sculptures at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. and symbolizes the protective role of police officers. Beneath the mountain lion appears the name of LAX Airport Police Officer Tommy Scott, who was killed while on duty at the airport in 2005. These elements emphasize deep connections within the law enforcement community and pay tribute to a fallen officer.
Culture
Historical and contemporary travelers are presented on the mural, illustrating how the region has long been a gateway for people of different cultures and backgrounds. Figures carry maps of the local area and flags of other nations. Other figures convey universal symbols for peace, justice and inclusion. The foreground of the mural depicts emotional departures and reunions of passengers, while the image of a young Mayan girl represents the immigrants who continue to shape the identity of the city.
Place
The artist references the environmentally protected sand dunes located on the west side of the airport with imagery of a Great Blue Heron and pelican birds. Throughout the mural, colorful butterflies span the composition, calling attention to the endangered El Segundo Blue Butterfly found in the neighboring dunes, as well as the Palos Verdes Blue, another local endangered butterfly species. The butterflies seek food and shelter in the Coast Buckwheat, which is also depicted in the mural.
About the artists: Chilean-American artist, Francisco Letelier, is known internationally for his public works. His soaring Sun and Moon murals at the Westlake/MacArthur Park Metro Station celebrate the diversity of Los Angeles. The artist weaves history with contemporary experiences while building dialogues between nations, individuals and communities. Marybeth Fama is the daughter of a creative Italian immigrant family. Born in Boston and raised in Chicago, she has lived in Los Angeles for more than 30 years. Known for her commanding skill in human portraiture and landscape, Fama uses insights into history, geography and culture to create thought provoking experiences.
