Departures is KCET's hyper-local web documentary, community engagement tool and digital literacy program about the cultural history of Los Angeles' neighborhoods.
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In 1929, as Venice of America fell into decline, oil was discovered in the peninsula. A decade later, the landscape had been completely pillaged, with more than 400 oil wells puncturing the built environment. Drilling and spillage further polluted the already abandoned and clogged canals. This post-apocalyptic setting became a perfect fit for Orson Wells' border-noir cinematic masterpiece Touch of Evil. But, what may come as a surprise to many, the oil industry actually flourished in Venice until the 1970's.
Return To The Mural
Funders and Partners
Support for the Departures' Venice installment is provided through these sponsors and local community partners, as well as from viewers like you.
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Click here to see all sponsors and community partners for Departures.
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THE NEXT CHAPTER FOR THE GREAT WALL OF LOS ANGELES
The Great Wall of Los Angeles has been a work in progress since its inception, and plans for its growth include extending the story from the 1950s into the 1990s.
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THROUGH THE COMMUNITY'S EYES: PERCEPTIONS OF THE GREAT WALL
The value of the mural is evident through the eyes of the growingly diverse local community. Neighbors have a personal connection to a particular panel's story or have grown up with it, learning and sharing the lessons the mural has to offer.
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NEW VOICES: NEW FACES IN LOS ANGELES MURALISM
Today, young artists inspired by SPARC and other pioneering muralists are continuing the legacy of muralism in Los Angeles with new avenues of approach.
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RESTORATION OF THE GREAT WALL OF LOS ANGELES
More than 25 years later, Judith Baca and SPARC returned to the Great Wall, to restore its luster after years of fading in the summer and beaten by the waters of the Tujunga Wash.
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