Los Angeles, Calif., Oct 24, 2007 / 06:42 am
A Montecito Heights artist has been spending the past seven years in what might seem a fruitless task: painting the Saints of Los Angeles.
Though not “a formal Catholic,” said an Oct. 11 Los Angeles Times story, artist J. Michael Walker “feels a close affinity to Catholic spirituality and culture.” This affinity inspired him to paint the Catholic saints after whom 103 Los Angeles streets have been named. Walker not only visits the streets, but also studies their histories and the lives of their saints.
For instance, when he first visited Santa Clara Street, he found it ran through a derelict industrial district. Walker painted St. Clare, the companion of St. Francis of Assisi, lifting a railroad lantern and standing next to barbed wire and security bars. He then placed this inscription on the painting: “Santa Clara had sought the privilege of absolute poverty, and found it here, on this meager portion of a street.”
San Pablo Street, Walker found, ran to the northeast of downtown Los Angeles and finally turned into a dirt road that climbed a bluff overlooking the city. He pictured this as a place where San Pablo – St. Paul – might preach.