Parks Make Life Better is a collaborative artwork by artists Wayne Healy and Michelle Glass and community members. The lead artists trained five youths to complete this site-specific mural on an unusual shaped wall in Darby Park.

Healy developed an eight-week introductory course to figure drawing, mural design and color mixing. Glass developed the team, finding individual talents and team challenges for the young artists. Inspired by the motto ‘Parks Make Life Better,’ the final artwork’s bright colors are framed under sweeping parabolas. All age groups are represented using Park activities from salsa dancing to skateboarding, swing sets to strollers.

Wayne Healy and David Botello are East Los Angeles artists. They co-founded East Los Streetscapers (ELS) in 1975, part of the East LA mural movement. ELS murals are throughout Los Angeles and Southern California. Healy is a university-trained painter. Botello trained in advertising and theme park backdrop painting. Botello contributed design support for this non-ELS art commission.

Michelle Glass is a social practice artist working to build equity and social justice for human rights, education, poverty, health, and the environment through her art. She earned her MFA from Otis College of Art and Design and co-founder AIR::RE-Public with Hataya Tubtim.

Date: 2015
Collection: City of Inglewood Permanent Public Art Projects
Medium: Mural
Material: Acrylic on treated cinderblock
Size: 11′ high x 41′ long

Location:
Darby Park
3400 West Arbor Vitae Street
Inglewood, California 90305

Wayne Healy & David Botello, Parks Make Life Better