News
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[OPEN CALL | CONVOCATORIA ABIERTA] Día de los Muertos
SPARC INVITES YOU TO PROPOSE A “SHOEBOX OFRENDA” This year, SPARC is dedicating our annual Día de los Muertos celebration to honoring members of our community who have been disappeared from Los Angeles homes, workplaces, schools, and streets due to ICE raids and anti-immigrant actions. Together, we will remember, resist, and celebrate life through art,…
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SPARC Statement of Solidarity
SPARC Stands with Immigrant and Undocumented+ Communities In light of the current political climate in Los Angeles and across the nation, the Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) stands in unwavering solidarity with our immigrant and Undocumented+ communities including mixed-status families, and those navigating multiple forms of systemic marginalization. Immigrants have shaped the cultural,…
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Donor Tribute: In Memory of Seymour Kaplan
Thank you to everyone who celebrated World Art Day 2025 with a donation to SPARC! Because of you, we are able to carry on our mission-driven work in art, education, community, and justice. Your support means the world to us This month, we are introducing a new Donor Tribute feature to our newsletter. Our inaugural…
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Volunteer Spotlight: Gary McKee
This month, we shine a spotlight on Gary McKee. SPARC volunteer Gary McKee has guided more than a dozen school groups through visits to the Great Wall mural in the past year, applying his theatrical talents and love for storytelling in his role as tour guide. Gary loves to bring the stories of the mural…
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Welcome Our New Artist in Residence in the Printmaking Studio: Elsie Dye Sims
We are delighted to welcome Elsie Dye Sims as our newest Artist in Residence at SPARC. Her lifelong dedication to art, social justice, and community-building aligns seamlessly with SPARC’s mission. Elsie has utilized art to address social issues, teaching art to children dealing with illness, fundraising for organizations like Planned Parenthood and The Trevor Project,…
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Introducing SPARC’s New Development Manager
We are thrilled to welcome Corrie Martin as SPARC’s new Development Manager! Corrie brings a wealth of experience in community engagement, event organization, and collaborative projects that align seamlessly with SPARC’s mission. Her passion for art, performance, and activism will be invaluable as we continue to produce, preserve, and promote socially relevant artwork. We look…
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Remembering Emily Winters: A Visionary Artist and Activist
It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Emily Winters, a groundbreaking muralist, activist, and co-founder of the Venice Arts Council. Her artistry and dedication to social and environmental justice have left an indelible mark on Venice and the greater Los Angeles community. One of Emily’s most iconic works, Endangered Species (1989-1990), adorns the…
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SPARC Announces the Acquisition of the Prigoff Collection
Dear friends of SPARC, We are very excited to announce that SPARC has been honored to receive the esteemed Prigoff Collection as a gift, a momentous addition that celebrates our ongoing mission to preserve and uplift the power of public art and that enhances our ongoing archival efforts through the SPARC Archives. The Prigoff Collection…
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2024 has been monumental for SPARC
Dear friends of SPARC, As the year comes to a close, we at the Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude for your continued support. Your belief in our mission to create, preserve, and celebrate public art that tells our stories and uplifts our communities…
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SPARC’s Election Response: Call to Artists
“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…
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Statement on the UCLA Palestine Solidarity Encampment
On Wednesday, May 1st one of our young Great Wall artists was struck with a rubber bullet during LAPD’s raid of the pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA. This violence shattered her painting hand which required her to undergo reconstructive surgery. She is expected to make a full recovery. Tragically, our team member is just one of…
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Remembering Jim Prigoff (1927-2021)
Today, we honor the memory of Jim Prigoff, a prolific photographer and author who documented murals and street art in the U.S. and abroad for over 40 years. His extensive work has helped to define the landscape of public art, tracing the art form across generations and geographies. Jim was a part of the SPARC…
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Summer 2021 Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship at SPARC
Public Art Administration Intern In partnership with the Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship Program The Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) is accepting applications for a Public Art Administration Intern. This position is a 10-week paid internship for undergraduate students from June to August 2021. SPARC creates public artworks and programs that empower communities and…
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The Patchwork Healing Circle
Live now on YouTube and Zoom!
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Hitting the Wall: A Historic Mural Will Return to LA
“Hitting the Wall” Update on Restoration of Judy Baca’s 1984 artwork on the Harbor Freeway As many of you know, the emblematic mural “Hitting the Wall” was egregiously whitewashed in 2019 without the consent of the artist and our founder, Judy Baca. The piece commemorated the first time female runners were allowed to compete in the…
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Update Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Update Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) Please note that public events at SPARC are postponed until further notice in alignment with nation-wide responses to coronavirus (COVID-19). Our headquarters in Venice, CA will be open by appointment only. We hope that you are all able to take care of your health during this time and we look forward to…
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WINTER MERCADO
WINTER MERCADO Mercado at SPARC is a premier holiday night market during the Venice Art Crawl on Friday, December 6th from 6-10 PM. Shop local this season and discover unique artworks and handmade goods by local artists and makers! In addition to our artisan marketplace, visit The Durón Gallery at SPARC for The Box Project…
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De-mystifying Thanksgiving
SPARC is inspired by a question recently posed by Jaclyn Roessel, the Director of Decolonized Futures & Radical Dreams at the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture: How do we collectively confront the invention of Thanksgiving and take on the myth and falsehoods related to the “founding” of the United States of America? …
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