“Red Car Memories: A Community Conversation” led by artist Mark Steven Greenfield this weekend—all about LA’s historic streetcar

by Maryam Hosseinzadeh , June 10, 2021

UPDATE, JUNE 28: Here’s the program!

The previous post:

On Saturday, June 12 at 11 a.m., join artist Mark Steven Greenfield on Zoom for a public storytelling event that looks back on the Pacific Electric Railway streetcar, also fondly known as the “Red Car.” These streetcars served Southern California from the early 1900s until the early 1960s.

Growing up in Los Angeles, the Metro–commissioned artist will recall his own childhood memories of the Red Car traveling through his neighborhood. As an adult, Greenfield came to appreciate the impact Pacific Electric had in the development of Southern California during the first half of the 20th century. While the Red Car system was dismantled in the 1960s “so suddenly and unceremoniously,” to use the artist’s own words, he has never forgotten it.

Greenfield did not want to see the Red Car lost from civic memory. When recommended by a community based panel to design an artwork for the future Historic Broadway station in downtown Los Angeles, he created an homage to the former streetcars called Red Car Requiem. The Historic Broadway station is part of the Regional Connector project that is tying together the A Line (Blue), E Line (Expo) and L Line (Gold).

The artwork, rendered by Greenfield in acrylic inks on Duralar, has been translated into a 147 foot by 10 foot glass mosaic mural. The work is now on its way to Los Angeles for installation at the station, currently under construction.

Detail of the artwork design

In December 2020, in collaboration with the Cal State LA Alumni Association, Greenfield surveyed Angelenos for their Red Car memories. Story-sharing will be followed by a Q+A and a sneak peek of Red Car Requiem.

Go to Eventbrite for more info about this event on Saturday, June 12 at 11 a.m. and RSVP to receive the Zoom link.