Outdoor Exhibition / Mural Project
For nearly 50 years, Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) has been at the forefront of advocating for immigrant rights, championing freedom of artistic expression, supporting LGBTQ individuals, women, indigenous people, and other underrepresented and historically marginalized communities. Through our public art and murals we remain steadfast in our mission to foster a future that dignifies and uplifts those who have been denigrated or silenced.
At this critical moment in American history, SPARC invited artists to respond to the 47th United States Presidential Election. These submitted artworks are featured in this ongoing outdoor ACTIVIST ARTIST exhibition.
WE ARE NOT DEFEATED because: “when it is darkest, we can see the brilliance of the stars.” Together, let’s continue to honor our shared commitment to dignity and inclusion. We remain dedicated through our public art and murals to fostering a future that dignifies and uplifts those whose voices deserve to be heard.
April 2025 – Ongoing rolling basis
SPARCin’ LOTS
685 Venice Blvd., Venice, CA 90291
“This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal. I know the world is bruised and bleeding, and though it is important not to ignore its pain, it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence. Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge – even wisdom. Like art.”
– Toni Morrison
Green, 2024
Ralph D’Oliveira
“These painting are my therapy for mentally surviving the MAGA insanity. The wall that separates the haves and have nots with with specific caveats etched into the wall.”
Welcome to America, 2021
Ralph D’Oliveira
“This painting shows the loss of intellect, talent, hard work and perseverance by our lack of a coherent border policy.”
Divine Right of Resistance, 2020
Olivia Ramos
“Divine Right of Resistance is a direct response to the Black Lives Matter Movement and protests resulting from the murder of Breonna Taylor, a Black medical worker shot and killed by police, March 2020. Not only did we have to survive a pandemic, but we also mourned police brutality and systemic racism. I wanted to show the outrage of constant injustices in a broken system and the sacredness of resistance to demand change. This pattern of abuse is historical and current to this day, and as long as it continues, there will be uprisings demanding justice. Where there is corruption, there will always be resistance.”
Beyond Roe, 2024
FLACO
“Reproductive Justice and bodily autonomy affects all of us. In response to the overturning of Roe and the onslaught of restrictions from the new administration, the people have turned to the internet for access to abortion. The people will prevail. We no longer need the hanger. The Greco-Roman style is used because the need for reproductive justice is ancient. The rebar is strength. The glass smalti are points of light.”
Resilience in Bloom, 2025
Teresa Greve Wolf
“Resilience in Bloom offers a response to the challenges of our time with a message of hope and transformation. The painting features a diverse group of immigrants unified around a radiant lotus flower, symbolizing resilience and the triumph of grace emerging from hardship. Overhead, a majestic phoenix spreads its fiery wings, embodying renewal and the unyielding spirit to rise from hardship. Through these universal symbols, the work reflects the strength of the human spirit and invites viewers to embrace unity and the possibility of renewal, echoing the exhibition’s theme: We Are Not Defeated.”
The Future is Female, 2021
Karen Fiorito
“‘The Future is Female’ is about empowering women to become leaders and embracing those values which we identify as “feminine” (nurturing, caring, creative, collaborative) as opposed to the male-dominated society we have had for thousands of years with its focus on hierarchy, violence, domination and the acquisition of wealth. It means that in the future women will have options they don’t have available to them now. It does not mean that men will be marginalized in the future. In modern history, there have been few examples of female leadership. We do not know its power, its breadth, its diversity. What would a future that is female look like if we gave women, non-gender conforming individuals and those who are open enough to learn from the female energy in their lives, the chance to lead? As Liza Cowan said, “If we are to have a future, it must be female, because the rule of men — patriarchy — has just about devastated life on this beautiful little planet. The essence and the spirit of the future must be female. So the phrase becomes not just a slogan, but a spell. For the good of all.”
Lifted Together, 2025
Teresa Greve Wolf
“Lifted Together beautifully embodies a powerful message of unity, resilience, and collective strength. The painting portrays a diverse group of women working together to lift one of their own who has fallen, symbolizing the unbreakable support found in solidarity, even during challenging times. In the background, a bent birch tree weathers a storm, representing resilience and the ability to endure hardship. Its hovering presence over the women conveys a sense of protection and empowerment, while its exposed roots symbolize a strong foundation that sustains and unites them. This piece serves as a vivid reminder that, no matter how difficult the journey, we are stronger together and capable of overcoming any adversity—including the trials of this election—when we stand as one.”
Bring A Folding Chair, 2024
Karen Fiorito
“For this screen print, I chose to make a portrait of Shirley Chisholm. Chisholm was an American politician who became the first black woman to be elected to the United States Congress in 1968. In 1972, she became the first black candidate for a major-party nomination for President of the United States and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. Throughout her career, she was known for taking “a resolute stand against economic, social, and political injustices,” as well as being a strong supporter of black civil rights and women’s rights. Chisholm’s quote, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair” is a particularly apt reminder that democracy is in our hands. We must never make excuses for not bringing our voices to the table just as Shirley did. This portrait is a part of a series of Women Making History on which I have been working.”
breathe fee one, 2024
sandra tamkin
“Reproductive rights in the United States is increasingly at risk. The reversal of Roe v. Wade in June 2022 has shifted the legal landscape around abortion access, contraception, and broader reproductive freedoms. The transfer toward state-by-state control has led to significant disparities in access to abortion, contraception, and other reproductive health services. Low-income individuals and people of color are particularly affected by restrictions on reproductive rights, as they are less likely to have access to healthcare or the resources to travel to states where abortion is still accessible.”
…More Artworks to be Revealed…
