Imperial/Wilmington Station
Pathways to Freedom, 2002
Michael Massenburg and Robin Strayhorn, artists
Artists Michael Massenburg and Robin Strayhorn created a public artwork honoring Rosa Parks and the Watts community. Viewing public transportation seating as symbolic of the Rosa Parks historical event, the team will create 5 seating areas out of concrete and ceramic tile, each seat honoring an important year in the life of Rosa Parks.
1913: The year Rosa Parks was born
1955: The year Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus
1963: The Civil Rights march in Washington D.C.
1964: The year the Civil Rights Bill passed in Congress
1965: The Civil Rights March from Selma to Montgomery.
The artist team worked directly with the local community and the South Central Senior Citizens Center, illustrating the connection between events associated with Rosa Park’s life and the lives of people from Watts. Collecting photographs of important events and people from the community, these images are incorporated into the artwork through painting on the tiles.
“Our philosophy is that art is functional and should be reflective of its different communities. We create an artistic and cultural environment for communities who may not have access to galleries and museums.”