By Ariyana Griffin
Contributing Writer
COMPTON — The Compton Art and History Museum hosted a curator walk for its newest exhibition, “We Are The Land, Stories From The Streets and Soil” on July 2, led by co-curator Chris Davis.
The exhibit combines art with the realities of environmental injustices that communities like Compton see every day, such as air and water pollution. It also highlights the immense resilience that emerges locally to rise above these conditions, as seen in community gardens that focus on community building.
Davis, a Compton native, has an academic background in environmental sciences and is currently a renewable energy consultant.
“I really have a heart for environmental justice and how we can use sustainable and environmentally friendly practices to make a more sustainable world, especially from an economic standpoint in Black and brown communities,” Davis said before he began walking visitors through the exhibit.
Fifteen artists from Compton, surrounding cities and even other countries who now call Los Angeles home each told a story of what it means to be a steward of the land. The artists used various art mediums including paintings, photography and sculptures.
It also features photographs taken by participants from the monthly photo walk hosted by an extension of the museum, Developed in Compton, a film lab, every last Saturday of the month.
Students from Compton Youthbuild Charter School of California also contributed art pieces to the museum. Yaileen Zamora, a multi-disiplinary artist and co-currator of “We Are The Land,” said the museum is rooted in community and uplifting the youth.
“Working personally with the students was inspiring,” Zamora said. “After this exhibition, I think they started getting excited, and hopefully that inspires them to do more in the future. Not just environmentally, but personally for the youth, I feel like we definitely need that in Compton.”
A recurring theme throughout the museum is Compton’s Eagle Tree, a 350-400 year old historic sycamore tree. The 70-foot-high tree earned its name due to the surrounding eagles that would nest in the tree.
The exhibition shared that the tree served as a “boundary marker for Rancho San Pedro, one of the major Spanish and Mexican land grants that shaped the geography of Southern California.”
The health of the tree, that had been standing longer than the city of Compton has been established, started declining in 2015 and it ultimately died and fell in 2022 due to disease and neglect.
“The story of our stewardship of the land isn’t always positive,” Davis said.”But unfortunately, through colonization and especially through industrialization, that changed a lot throughout the 20th century.”
Archives from Cal State Dominguez Hills provided photos and documentations about advocacy for the historic sycamore tree.
Industrialization in Compton and surrounding cities has led to major health concerns for residents due to the air quality, heavy diesel truck traffic from transporting goods and even soil contamination. Artists highlighted the cause and effect this has not only on the environment and animals but on people occupying the land as well.
ALMA Backyard Farms, Moonwater Farm and Compton Community Garden were highlighted for being stewards of the land in Compton and giving back to the community. Visitors were encouraged to volunteer at the community gardens and spend time getting to know the land.
“We wanted the folks as they come in and see that the community has already been doing this work,” Davis said.
Davis added that he wants people to leave the exhibition inspired to be a steward of the land in whatever capacity they may have.
“I hope you feel inspired that whether you’re from Compton, whether you’re from Inglewood, that you find some way that you can make change,” Davis said. “We can all volunteer, we can maybe donate, we can at least sign a petition that’s advocating for an environmental effort or some kind of environmental regulatory commission in your city.”
“We Are The Land” is the 11th exhibit curated at the Compton Art and History Museum since it opened its doors in February 2023. The museum was founded by husband-and-wife Marquell Byrd and Abigail Lopez-Byrd and has since given more than 75 artists an opportunity to share their art and stories with the community.
“I really love my community, and I’ve been learning about places that are already doing the work to help people bring awareness,” said Gabriela Maravilla, a Compton native attending the curator talk. “I’m an artist myself, and so it’s really inspiring to see all these elements come together.”
The museum is located at 306 W Compton Blvd., Suite 104, and is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is free and Davis’ exhibit will be on display until mid-September.
Ariyana Griffin is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers.
