Arise. Shine. Thy Light is Come.

Arise. Shine. Thy Light is Come., 2023. Free hand-painted acrylic latex, 7 x 185’ Produced by Los Ángeles World Airports, Tom Bradley International Terminal, Los Ángeles International Airport, CA

Dedicated to the ones who are mid-flight in their search

As people of hope, we often flock to environments that offer greater potential. We migrate for sustenance, for comfort, for respite, for opportunities, for love, for freedom. We convene at airports in search for these very things that make for a fulfilling life. For some of us, our journey may start at the airport.

LAX is a perpetual hub of movement and human activity. Some of us dart about as we prepare for flight, while others regain their balance upon returning home. For many who are arriving at LAX for the first time with a hope for purpose and great discovery, the city of Los Ángeles welcomes us warmly with her abundance of urban and natural wonders. 

This mural is inspired by songbirds that call Los Ángeles home, and the ones that they have welcomed.

The Violet-green swallow, Western tanager, California scrub jay, American goldfinch, and Red-winged blackbird can all be found in the city’s backyards, streets, parks, and skies, their birdsong providing a spirited soundtrack to the city’s daily rhythms. Joining them is the Vietnamese greenfinch, a species native of Việt Nam, and the Silver-breasted broadbill, a native of Cambodia. The diversity of birdsong, color, pattern, and beauty stirs an enduring impression of the biodiversity of Los Ángeles and a great appreciation for our own unique characteristics and personal histories.

The mural also features an array of drawings, culled from the artist’s collection called Buông Xả Đi, a Vietnamese phrase which describes an exhalation of emotion and thought, a meditation toward letting go. The abstract forms express energy, movement, and change, offering a moment for us to witness the beauty that abounds as opportunities await us on new horizons.

The title of this piece derives from the encouragement found in the Book of Isaiah.

Some glimpses into the process: