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Ms. Batty

Kevin Cabrera

03/02/2017

Pacoimas Mile

The power one has cannot be proven for where they live but how one can make of it. The

mural I have chosen to portray is a painting by Levi Ponce an artist from the Valley. The mural

depicts the original and historic Mona Lisa if not the most talked about piece of art work. Levi

Ponce has created and established the Pacoimas Art Revolution. His idea of putting two well

known histories together from the Mexican revolution and a monumental painting. The Mexican

community has much history and the mixture of the Mona Lisa descripts her holding a sword

with a sombrero, the Mexican flag wrapped across her shoulder with the back of a rifle showing

behind her. There is much more to explain and much more to fight for.

Leonardo Da Vinci created chaos during his time as an artist, due to his famous painting

of the Mon Lisa. Levi Ponce took and incorporated some culture of his own. The original

painting was like nothing ever seen before due to the way she was smiling; her hands were

showing movement. During that art period every art work was still and looked too similar. Levi

left the painting alone and gave a pieces from years of the revolution. That would prove the

Mexican community had more to offer than what is being shown on our everyday news channel.

Levi Ponce was much like Leonardo da Vinci when it came to art, they both took risk.

His goal in his project for the Pacoimas Art Revolution was to give Mexicans a sense of

belonging to fight for their rights and always have their armor on ready for whatever is coming
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their way. Levi has painted a border behind Mona Lisa showing showing a part of very Mexican

coming to American for a better life.

Pacoimas Art Revolution breaks barriers among two different cultures. The Mons Lisa

stands for a new beginning of art allowing a Mexican American to see its own reflection. A new

beginning of a life style, a life style full of hopes and dreams better known as the American

Dream. His artwork creates visible sense of power and strength to the Mexican community

letting them know they are no different nor inferior to people with a social status.

The mural shows the Mona Lisa being light skin yet wearing the armor of a Mexican

revolutionary, showing there are no barriers alongside people life. Powerful image of showing

that Mexicans have two different identities, allowing the to believe they are America but also

keeping in mind the kind of blood that runs through their veins and where they came from.
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Work Cited

Frank, Shyong. Muralist is Helping to Reclaim Pacoimas Image. (2013) 1.wed.

Luis, Lopez Levis ponce, Los Angeles Muralist, Brings Pacoima Community together with

mural Mile. Latino Voices (2013) 2-3.wed.