Sun Village just got a vibrant splash of history on its walls, as a gargantuan mural titled "The Light of Many Suns" was ceremoniously unveiled over the weekend. The community and leaders alike gathered at Jackie Robinson Park to witness the homage to African American legacy in the neighborhood’s high desert landscape, according to the Los Angeles County Supervisor's Office. Created through a collaboration between artist April Banks, the Kounkey Design Initiative, Clockshop, and the LA County Department of Parks and Recreation, this 44x11 foot tile mosaic has found a permanent home on the park's gymnasium wall, boasting an intimate connection to local heritage.
Funding to the tune of $250,000 for this art piece came courtesy of Supervisor Kathryn Barger from the county's Fifth Supervisorial District, as reported by Kathryn Barger's official website. Community meetings were consistently held to engage both elder and younger Sun Village residents, with Banks presenting renderings to gather feedback directly to influence the mural's final flourish.
In a statement made by Kathryn Barger's official website, Supervisor Barger said, "This beautiful mural is a fitting tribute to the rich history and vibrant community in Sun Village.” Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger added, “It was created in close collaboration with local residents, so this artwork has a lot of meaning and will be a source of inspiration, beauty, and education for future generations of Antelope Valley residents." A true community effort, the mural celebrates the enduring spirit of Sun Village and Jackie Robinson's legacy, accompanied by commemoration from his grandson, Aaron Bolden, at the ceremony.
Attendees at the mural’s reveal spanned nearly a century of lives, bridging elementary schoolers to residents in their nineties. Norma E. García-González, Director of the LA County Department of Parks and Recreation, told Kathryn Barger's official website, "Residents paved streets, installed streetlights and gas lines, and built the park themselves. The Women’s Club of Sun Village organized bake sales and other fundraisers to purchase most of the land for the park, and then donated the land to LA County Parks."
The mural's intricate design also includes smaller mosaic medallions, celebrating the Civic Women’s Club of Sun Village and their determination to establish an official park in Jackie Robinson's name. Clockshop's website provides more in-depth detail about "The Light of Many Suns" project for those looking to dive deeper into the story behind the art. For anyone wanting to see the mural firsthand, Jackie Robinson Park is located at 8773 E Avenue R, Sun Village, CA 93543, as per the Los Angeles County Supervisor's Office.
