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Alicia

Batty

English 101

30 May 2017

Express Love: An Examination of the Elixir Mural

Have we forgotten that we are spiritual beings having human experiences? In a universe

created in harmony, conflict is a creation of the mind. You have all that you need within. What

are you waiting for? Freeyou mind! This quote is written at the bottom of a mural called

The Elixir. The Elixir mural was painted by Patrick Henry Johnson in 2011, which is located

on 4213 Crenshaw Boulevard. In 2015 Johnsons Elixir mural was horribly vandalized. As

Johnson was painting the black silhouette of a woman, it was then that he realized he was

painting a woman he had previously been in a relationship with. It hit him then that he still loved

and had feelings for this woman and had to paint this mural alone. The love that he felt gave him

the motivation to paint the Elixir, Johnson states All the fondness and love that I had for her, I

had to release her and I released it all in the painting. So that is why that painting is so symbolic

and powerful (Carreon). Although the mural had been vandalized by individuals who do not

appreciate someones work of art and the message the artist is sending to the community, I

believe Patrick Henry Johnsons message he is sending through The Elixir is about love, to

free your mind of pain, hatred, conflict and to let love in and to express love amongst others.

I believe the colors and visual aspects of this mural catch the viewers attention and

makes them feel comfort and peace. The top three-fourths of the mural lays a smooth violet blue,

in this area lays small yet soothing clouds, as if a storm had just passed. The clouds are unique

because these clouds seem to be upside down representing abnormality. Right below this
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peaceful blue is a harmonious red, which transitions in to a yellow with a whisper of an orange

hue. In this entanglement of yellow and orange are a set of full hefty clouds unlike the clouds in

the blue region that face right side up. The core of this mural sits an angelic African American

woman who has no features, no details of eyes, nose, or lips visualize instead space. Yes, space.

Envision an abundance of stars and at the base of her neck are two plants, as if you were staring

up at the stars and found serene peace. Now envision a black and white portal placed where her

forehead would be. The portals location portrays her mind opening up and moving on from what

is known in the human body and mind as if she is freeing herself from pain, worry and conflict.

As she holds her head up strong, around her silhouette is a modest halo which gently flows all

the way to the top of her luscious, voluminous hair. As you reach the top of her head picture as if

her essence is being freed into this blue tranquil region, as mentioned this region lays the passing

of upside down clouds. Her soul, her essence seems to be leaving her body to be freed into this

soothing and relaxed haven. The feeling you get when looking at this mural in my opinion

expresses love and what is love if its not comfortable and peaceful? As mentioned Johnson

paints planets and stars within the womans silhouette representing that the love he had for his

previous lover was everywhere, all around.

In 2015 The Elixir mural was greatly vandalized, possibly by local gang members or

random hooligans who graphitized the mural. In Jessica Carreons article it mentions how

Johnson was in such disbelief in finding what had happened to his mural that he put so much of

himself in. He could not believe it was vandalized because he couldnt imagine someone

destroying anothers piece of work that they had spent so much time and money on. Not only

was the art work destroyed and no longer held its beauty but the message Johnson wanted to

send to the community through his mural was broken and no longer held importance. After
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speaking with his sister he realized that deep down he kind of knew that something would

eventually happen to his mural but hoped that it wouldnt.

Once Johnson realized his mural was destroyed he made a plan of action to repaint the

mural and bring back the art and the message back to life. After repainting the mural the city of

Crenshaw agreed to put a clear coat over the finished mural to prevent any further damage, this

coat will prevent graffiti from sticking to the mural. In hopes to bring people of the community

together Johnson wants to hold a mile long walk down Crenshaw Boulevard which leads to the

repainted Elixir mural. At the end of the walk the people of the community will meet at the

mural where Johnson will have music, where people can come together in harmony. The people

who engage in the rebirth of the mural will get the opportunity to spread love with one another.

(Dixion)

Though The Elixir mural was defaced, Johnson could have left it as is, but instead was

very emotionally invested in his mural and the affect it had on the community. A community who

deals with hardship and gang violence. The love Johnson had for this woman has been

beautifully expressed because at the time he was painting the mural he still had so much love for

her. The message of the mural, in my opinion, is not to create problems within ourselves or with

one another, to not create conflict, but instead to spread love. Painting a mural with so much

emotion invested in it, the power of the message is that love is all surrounding and if we free our

minds we can let love in. The message becomes all powerful.
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Works Cited

Carreon, Jessica. "Restoring Defaced Art: Patrick Henry Johnson's." Los Angeles Times. Los

Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2015. Web. 30 May 2017.

Dixion, Terri. "The Pilgrimage to Elixir." Leimert Park Beat. Leimert Park Beat, 2012. Web. 30

May 2017.

"Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles." The Elixir. Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles, 2011.

Web. 30 May 2017.

Appendix
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