Neighbors Create an Anti-Gang Mural as Way to Combat Graffiti

The tiny Westside Market in a rundown neighborhood off Ventura Avenue was a popular target for gang graffiti.

Almost every week, Ventura city workers would cover the thick stucco walls with another coat of beige paint to hide the symbols of the area’s sparring gang members.

But, with the help of a local artist and city staff, the children and teen-agers who live along West Ramona Street decided to use the wall to make a different statement--in the form of a brightly colored mural.

Depicting the sorrows caused by gang violence, the youths and artist Chris Martinez have painted a crying woman holding her dead son at the center of the mural. They call the painting “Nuestro Varrio -- Salve Los Ninos,” which means “Our Neighborhood--Save the Children” in Spanish.

“We want to send a message,” said Raymond Mendez, 14, who helped with the project. “I wish we could do it on every building and make writing on walls a good thing, not bad. . . . This is our neighborhood. Let’s stop the violence.”

Although gang members in the Ventura Avenue area have not caused much violence, the young residents said they know about the gang wars raging in Los Angeles and fear that the same thing could happen in their neighborhood.

“Maybe this will do some good,” said Andy Arrieta, 20.

The young painters, along with Martinez and city gang prevention coordinator Roberta Payan, will dedicate the mural--which was completed about two weeks ago--to neighborhood residents on Friday.

“If I can say anything about this neighborhood, I’m proud of this thing,” said Robert Alaniz, a resident who watched the youths paint the mural. “It means a lot. Salve los ninos. “

Payan, who has been working with Ventura Avenue children at the city’s Westpark Recreation Center, came up with the mural idea and asked other city officials for money from Ventura’s graffiti eradication program.

City Manager John Baker agreed to let Payan proceed, believing that it was an innovative way to combat graffiti.

“Even under the overpasses of the freeways in Los Angeles, the gangs don’t destroy the murals,” Baker said. “There’s something to it.”

Payan asked Martinez, an art instructor at Ventura College, to help with the project. Together they met with neighborhood youths to come up with a theme.

On some days, more than 30 children and teen-agers helped with the mural. Some are believed to be gang members, but none would admit it. Several young artists decided to sign their names at the bottom of the mural, which is 39 feet long and 15 feet tall.

“It’s a vehicle that gives kids a social, acceptable way to show all their talent,” Payan said, adding that she hopes to start similar projects in other areas of the city.

“This is a good way for them to be respected and beautify their community and make a statement. We could have painted the dolphins and the flowers. We wanted it to be a strong message.”

The mural also depicts a skull, a man firing a gun and a smiling husband and wife holding their baby. In addition, it includes the English phrases “Increase the Peace,” “Save the Children” and “Stop the Violence.”

“We wanted to get across the madness of shooting into a group of people without caring who was there,” Martinez said. “The skull . . . means ‘Watch out.’ ”

The smiling couple, Martinez said, is meant to promote family values.

“In the Latino culture, nothing is more highly valued than the family and motherhood,” Martinez said. “I felt that could make a difference.”

Alaniz said he is surprised that the mural has not been defaced by graffiti.

“I’d figured it would get messed up right away,” he said. “Sometimes this wall was marked up twice a week. But people respect (the mural). It’s what we need around here.”

Mike Diaz, 22, another area resident, said he came out to help with the project almost every day.

“It’s something we can be proud of,” he said. “It’s something I can show my 18-month-old daughter when she gets older.”