Reading the Walls

The contemporary form of the community mural is street art and is a continuation of the urban art movement that has grown substantially in the city of Los Angeles. The characteristics of street art involve a mix of graffiti subculture and the scale of Mexican muralism. Yet, ephemeral street art may have found an apposite home in Las Vegas, the land of blow up and tear down, a destination for a transient population. In Los Angeles, street art is part of a long history of murals on walls, a mix of styles trying to coexist as separate communities of thought. In Las Vegas, street art is a visiting voice in a town filled with temporary residents. This visual essay highlights the importance of visual inquiry for engaging these complicated landscapes.