"I painted the green grass. It was fun because I got lots of paint on me."
--Shannon Nakamine, Girl Scout Troop 532, 9 years old
"I’ve always wanted to paint a mural. When I tried to on my wall without my mom knowing, my mural days were over. So this is a nice Saturday activity to fulfill a childhood love of painting on walls. Except this time I have consent."
--Jeanine Jackson, 16 years old
"My my my. I must simply say that this mural is simply fantastic. Its vivid colors and meaningful expressiveness brings new life to this somewhat dismal community. Much needed here for all to see upon a quick driveby. May I add that the road was expertly painted?
--Aaron Smart, UCLA student 10/18/98
"The mural is gorgeous! I only wish that I could have helped out with it sooner. I’ll have to come to Kenny’s more often so I can come by and look at the mural. It really brightens up the community. Thanks for allowing the community to share in its beautiful work."
--Kelli Nakayama, UCLA student 10/18/98
"As I worked on the mural, the images bring back memories of growing up on Centinela Ave. My thought - Images of Past and Future."
--Sharon Kumagai, volunteer, Gardena resident
"I’m so happy to have been a very small part of a project that will bring so much pride to our community. It was a wonderful experience bringing my children to help as well. Now they will be more aware of the history of the Japanese community in the Mar Vista/Venice area."
--Gail Nishina-Sharp, volunteer whose mother Fusae, and sons Ryan and Steven also painted
"I helped to paint the woman’s blue pant leg on the far left. It was fun and great to be a part of a community project. It’s important for everyone to leave a part of a legacy and to remember the people who lived here. It’s a pleasure to leave a little piece of ourselves through art. Thank you for the opportunity to have been a part of this!!"
--Julie Inouye AKA Jules Ino, artist/musician/neighbor
"I’m a relative newcomer (1973) in this area. The people are friendly. It is really a nice area to be from. Thank you for all your hard work."
--Ethel Sato, volunteer and neighbor
"I really admire the persistence, planning and hard work of making this mural a reality."
--Laura Pulido, volunteer and USC professor
"As I was exploring our Centinela Avenue neighborhood I discovered your mural on the side of Aloha Grocery. Thank you for beautifying our neighborhood... Since I am a native of Los Angeles, I remember the Red Car and know it traveled along Culver Blvd to Playa del Rey. I am very aware of the influence of the Japanese Americans living in the neighborhood. We have a very ethnically rich environment."
--Frances Sotcher, longtime Mar Vista resident, UCLA student
"I thought of a mural as just being one person’s idea, whatever they wanted to express. But here strangers even contributed... Here you are, standing in the middle of the sidewalk, exposed to the environment, when someone says that it looks nice, you feel good. You feel like you are doing a good job."
--Sergio Diaz, Assistant Production Coordinator
"When I was home over the weekend for a family gathering, I had the rare opportunity to read the Rafu. I was quite impressed and moved by the support and effort to complete this mural. Community art projects are so essential to the soul of the people and communities they live in. I would love to see the mural in person one day. Kudos to you all."
--Linda Ando, University of Washington
"Now culture being a social product, I firmly believe that any work of art should have a social function to beautify, to glorify, to dignify man... Since any social system is forced to change to another by concrete economic forces, its art changes also to be recharged, reshaped, and revitalized by the new conditions... The making of a genuine artist or writer is not mysterious. It is not
the work of Divine Providence. Social conditions, history, and the people's struggle are the factors behind it."
--Carlos Bulosan, "The Writer as Worker" January 17, 1955
