Wilshire/Normandie Station
Festival of Masks Parade, 1996
Frank Romero, artist
Romero’s Festival of Masks Parade is a sixty-foot curved mural located at the west end of the Wilshire/Normandie Station. This colorful and festive mural depicts the annual parade of masks held along Wilshire Boulevard each fall. Many characters in full regalia stroll along the Boulevard including a Chinese dragon, people in African masks, a Native American eagle dancer, a Korean traditional dancer, a group from a Brazilian carnival, a giant calavera puppet, a marching band and bagpipe player, and the scarecrow from "The Wizard of Oz." A bright red convertible leads the parade.
In the mural’s background one can see a sampling of local architecture: the Craft and Folk Art Museum, an art deco camera store, the Brown Derby, the El Rey Theatre, Bullock’s Wilshire and the May Co. Building. The whole scene is framed by a sky that goes from night to day, with a bright moon and tall slender palm trees.
"I selected this theme because the parade is a popular event which celebrates the rich multi-ethnic cultural traditions of Southern California in an atmosphere of high spirits and pride. The Mask Parade takes place along one of my favorite architectural landscapes—the mid-Wilshire area known as the Miracle Mile. I have documented and participated in this festival for many years."