UPDATE:  You can now watch a video of the archived July 1 info session for the Veterans Legacy Art Project on YouTube! 

Metro invites community-based arts organizations to submit qualifications for programming and artwork design services for a project that will result in an original mosaic artwork at a site near the future Westwood/VA Hospital Station, part of the Westside Purple (D Line) Extension Project.

The future Veterans Legacy Art Project artwork will honor the extensive National Veterans Mural painted throughout the intersection at Wilshire Blvd. and Bonsall Ave. near the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) West Los Angeles Medical Center.

During the construction of the new Metro station, a portion of the mural that is located on the off-ramp wall from westbound Wilshire Blvd. to Bonsall Ave. will be decommissioned. While the majority of the over 23,000 square foot mural will remain, the removal of this portion is necessary to build the north plaza of the Westwood/VA Hospital Station. Project planners found there is no available space to accommodate the portion in its original location. It cannot be relocated due to the condition and age of the wall. The rest of the mural, which extends throughout the underpass and walls on all sides of the Wilshire Blvd./Bonsall Ave. intersection, will be protected in place during construction.

Dedicated in 1995, the National Veterans Mural was painted by artist and U.S. Navy veteran, Peter Stewart, who was first known for his POW/MIA Mural in Venice, CA. Both murals were done through the National Veterans Foundation (NVF). NVF’s founder and veterans counselor, Shad Meshad, worked with Stewart. Their therapy sessions reignited a passion for art during a time when Stewart was suffering from PTSD, drug addiction and homelessness. Though Stewart died before the National Veterans Mural was completed, the mural has remained for over 26 years and is a landmark for veterans and VA staff at the VA West Los Angeles Medical Center.

The mosaic artwork for the Veterans Legacy Art Project will be prominently located directly across the street from the site of the original mural, facing the north plaza of the new station.

The community-based arts organization selected through this Request for Qualifications will identify and collaborate with a lead artist to develop community programming that will inform the design of the future mosaic artwork (to be fabricated through a separate contracting process). Veterans will participate in the design process and the final artwork design will also be determined with veteran input.

Applications are due August 27, 2021 at 5 p.m. PST

An info session for interested arts organizations will be held via Zoom on Thursday, July 1, from 2 to 4 p.m. RSVP for the info session on Eventbrite

For full details about this specific opportunity and to apply, visit metro.net/art and go to “Artist Opportunities.”

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Click here for information about Metro’s art program. You can also follow Metro Art on Instagram, Facebook, and at #MetroArtLA.