La Sal De La Tierra (The Salt of the Earth)
Felix Quintana’s artworks are densely layered collages that depict the people and urban landscapes of Los Angeles County. Having grown up in Lynwood, he draws inspiration from locations connected to his personal history, looking to East, Southeast, and Central Los Angeles to celebrate the County’s diverse communities.
This artwork is a combination of over fifty layers of photos from the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning archives, personal documentation, and portraits of community members who attended workshops held by Quintana across the County. The artist printed each element onto cyanotype-treated paper—which gives the final image its signature blue coloring and grainy texture—and then scanned each handmade print to create a digital collage. La sal de la tierra (The Salt of the Earth) is a representation of the people and places of Los Angeles, both past and present. Through the signs, maps, aerial views, city streets, graffiti, and architecture juxtaposed with the faces of Angelenos, Quintana has created a portrait of Los Angeles County.
LAND is thrilled to present its first permanent public commission. Artworks by Teresa Baker and Felix Quintana were commissioned by the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture and installed at the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning offices at the Los Angeles County Hall of Records in Downtown Los Angeles. The offices on the 13th floor are open to the public and Baker and Quintana’s artworks are on view.
Together with the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture’s Civic Art Division, LAND worked with these artists to develop pieces that were responsive to the mission of the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning and considers both the people and land that the organization represents and stewards.
Location:
Los Angeles County Hall of Records, 320 West Temple StLos Angeles, CA 90012
Date: December 6, 2024 — Ongoing