TRANSPORTATION OF WATER - 1959

A monochromatic depiction of police violence against executed in red ochre. In the center of the image, two mounted officers rain baton blows on the bent backs of three men, one of whom is shoeless. A fourth fights back. In the lower left, two hard-hatted miners work with pickaxes. Hands intrude into the frame above the miners. Beyond them, two roughly sketched figures point a cylindrical weapon at a third, who falls backwards. 


  • American Pipe and Construction Company

    4700 Ramona Blvd, Monterey Park, CA 91754

  • 1959

  • Smith, Powell, & Morgridge

  • Natural rock mosaic mural

  • Approx. 4 ft. x 16 ft.

  • Unknown

  • Likely Robert V. Edwards, President, American Pipe & Construction Co., Monterey Park.

  • Unknown.

  • TVS digital records.

  • In 1957, work began for “the new administrative offices of the American Pipe & Construction Co... of reinforced brick, featuring an entrance of concrete block in a decorative pattern.” [1]

    In 1959, the Los Angeles Times reported that “the Southern California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects has announced the winners for its annual Certificate Awards for Craftsmanship and Draftsmanship...Recipients of Certificates of Craftsmanship were Tom Van Sant, of Smith, Powell & Morgridge” [2]. In May 1960, Architectural and Engineering News reported that Van Sant had received the certificate for “outstanding skill in executing an architect’s special design in basic and finish trades.”[3]

    Given the conjunction of date, artist, and architect, the AIA certificate could only have been awarded for Transportation of Water.

    In 1970, American Pipe and Construction Co. changed its name to Ameron, Inc. In 1974, the City of Monterey Park acquired the Ameron building (and presumably Van Sant’s mural) “which it will use for its municipal offices.”[4]

    In April 1993, “the [Los Angeles Sheriff’s] department moved its headquarters from the Hall of Justice downtown to the Ameron building in Monterey Park” [5]. The fate of the mosaic is currently unknown.

    [1] “Work Begun on $350,000 Office Unit for Firm,” Los Angeles Times, 30 June 1957: F10.   

    [2] “Winners of AIA Awards Named,” Los Angeles Times, Dec 20, 1959, pg. E4.

    [3]Architectural and Engineering News, Volume 2, Number 5, May 1960, pg. 3.

    [4] Craig Turner, “Land Swap for City Hall approved,” Los Angeles Times, March 7, 1974.

    [5] Kenneth Reich, “Directory Mix-Up Snags Calls to the Sheriff's Department,” Los Angeles Times, 09 July 1993, VYB9. 

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