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Alicia Zavaleta

English 101

2 March 2017

Love Will Overcome All

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. A couple years later 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 that he still had

love and feelings for this woman and had to paint this mural alone. Because it was his love that

he felt that 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, Jessica. "Restoring Defaced Art: Patrick Henry

Johnson's." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, Aug. 215.). 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 at peace. On this mural three-fourths of the top of the mural is a
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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 peaceful blue is a harmonious red, which transitions in to a dappled 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 plants 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 happened to his mural he put so much of himself

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

someone elses work that they had spent so much time and money on. Not only was the art work
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destroyed and no longer held its beauty but the message Johnson wanted to send to the

community through this mural was broken and no longer held importance. Johnson spoke to his

sister telling her how could this happen and how upset he was, instead of comforting him she

told him that the location he chose to paint the mural, in Crenshaw, that he should have known

that it would happen. After 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 it back to life. After painting the mural once again 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 they will meet at the mural where Johnson wants there to be 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.

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, that love is surrounding us all and if we free

our minds we can let love in, and becomes all powerful.
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Works Cited Page

http://highschool.latimes.com/charter-oak-high-school/restoring-defaced-art-patrick-

henry-johnsons-the-elixir/

http://www.muralconservancy.org/murals/elixir
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Appendix
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