As people of all ages filed in for an outdoor festival to celebrate the unveiling of what is considered a “landmark mural” at the Burbank YMCA, it was an unexpected surprise to see Robert Vargas, the artist himself, still painting high above the ground on scaffolding, wearing his paint-spattered uniform and wide-brimmed straw pava shielding him from the scorching sun.
As Vargas painted the remaining portions of the mural – which he completed by the end of the day – people had the opportunity to witness a “work in progress.”
This method of working has become part of his signature. He works quickly, often around the clock, leaving a portion undone that brings an audience to watch him complete the mural at the unveiling.
“As people were arriving, they were getting to see … a view into the studio, so to speak,” Vargas told The San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol. “I think it was actually … really great for people to see the creative process, because rarely do they get to see that as well. You know, it’s one thing to see the finished product, but it’s another thing to be there during the process as it’s coming to fruition.”
On a background of red, white and blue, the mural depicts diversity: Mexican American, Armenian American, Asian American and African American – a nod to multiculturalism and the residents who live in Burbank and the message that “Belonging Has No Borders.”
That’s the title of the 60-foot-by-50-foot mural that Vargas created along the exterior of the Burbank YMCA building facing the corner of Third Street and San Jose Avenue. Commissioned by the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, the mural is part of a collaborative partnership with the YMCA of Mexico. It was fitting to hold the unveiling during the designated Hispanic Heritage Month, when notable Latinos are acknowledged in the U.S.
Last April, the YMCA of LA announced its “binational partnership” at downtown Olvera Street with YMCA Mexico, which includes youth sports exchange programs; Girls’ Empowerment Day programs coordinated simultaneously in both countries; and improved infrastructure to serve more communities across Mexico. This agreement allows YMCA members in the U.S. and Mexico to have reciprocal access to YMCA centers in both countries.
As an expression of the partnership, Vargas will also paint a “sister mural” in Mexico City.
Victor Dominguez, president and CEO of YMCA of LA, described the planned mural for Mexico City as an extension of the Burbank mural. He said the artwork represents the shared goals of the YMCA in both countries, and will serve as enduring symbols of “feeling a sense of belonging, feeling a sense of connectedness and feeling a sense of togetherness.”
“That is something that we all need more than ever before,” said Dominguez.
As fundraising efforts are underway for the next mural, Vargas said he’s in the early stages of envisioning the imagery and themes he will convey at the Mexico City site.
“That’s all marinating in the back of my mind,” he said. Vargas noted that he always draws some of his creativity from spending time in each community where he plans to paint a new mural – meeting the people there and becoming familiar with the landscape.
“That alters everything … because I want it to be authentic to the space where [I’m] painting [and] who’s going to live with [the mural] once I leave,” said Vargas. And he even factors in where the sun rises and sets when considering different color palettes for an outdoor mural.
Which is precisely what Vargas did in Burbank, creating a mural to “bring a lot of color to the community” and depicting multi-ethnic portraits that “celebrate everyone,” he said.
Vargas, who is currently in high demand across LA and in other parts of the world, worked on the Burbank mural for nearly 48 hours straight, sharing several video updates via Instagram that led up to the Oct. 3 unveiling.
Several elected officials, including State Assemblymember Nick Schultz and U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman, presented Vargas with certificates of recognition for his body of work.
Some of the other large-scale murals Vargas has created across LA include a tribute to the late musician Eddie Van Halen outside the Guitar Center in Hollywood; “Fernandomania Forever” in Boyle Heights; “From the Ashes” in Altadena following the LA wildfires; and an homage to the late scholar and historian Rudy Acuña, who died earlier this year in March.
Otelo Resendiz, who grew up in Burbank, said he was eager to see the newly-completed YMCA mural, which he described as both “beautiful and meaningful.”
“I love it and I think it’s great that it’s at a place like the YMCA, which has such a long history in this community,” he said. “I also love seeing all of the cultures represented, because from North America to South America to Europe, we’re all immigrants and we’re also all Americans.”
For Robert Vargas’ Instagram page, go to: www.instagram.com/therobertvargas.
The Burbank YMCA is located at 321 E. Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank. For more information, call (818) 845-8551.
Editor Diana Martinez contributed to this article.
