Sin Censura Exhibit: An Experience Close To Home

Cameryn Baker, ‘22

A limited-time addition to an exhibit at the Natural History Museum in LA is “close to home” in two ways: One, it is quite literally five minutes from the USC campus, so you can walk over and see it whenever you want. Two, the exhibit is completely dedicated to remembering the history of Los Angeles, the home city of our school!

The special addition to the exhibit is an 80 foot long mural done by Chicana artist Barbara Carrasco. The mural is titled “Un Mural Recuerda a L.A.” or “A Mural Remembers LA.” The exhibit is titled “Sin Censura,” which means, “Without Censure,” because Carrasco’s mural depicts all of the history of LA, including the controversies. 

Barbara Carrasco was hired to paint the mural all the way back in 1981 for Los Angeles’s bicentennial. However, upon its completion, it was decided to be too controversial to be displayed, and was subsequently censored. It is only now, 37 years later, that the original, uncensored mural is being revealed in a gallery setting. So basically…this mural is a pretty big deal. And we’re lucky enough to be just 5 minutes away from seeing it!

But the exhibit is far more than just an 80 foot long mural, though that is the prized focal point. There are several rooms you can walk through before entering the mural room, all of which are dedicated to LA, its history, and especially its hispanic influence. Check out encasements of traditional Day of the Dead displays (as pictured above), artwork hung everywhere from walls (as pictured below), and even a miniature model of the entire city of Los Angeles (not pictured…let that compel you to go check it out for yourself!). 

I was required by my Spanish III class to go see the mural for an assignment, but I was pleasantly surprised to find the exhibit to be much more than just an academic obligation. I walked through the entire Los Angeles section, reading up on our city’s history. The information on the signs and plaques posted within the exhibit was always written in both English and Spanish, and I tried my best to apply my Spanish reading skills, before I resorted to reading the more familiar language. It was very inspiring to me, as a both a lifelong inhabitant of Los Angeles and a person of Mexican descent, to walk through the exhibit. It is inspiring to see how far the city has come, and how it has been built around so much beautiful culture. We truly are lucky here at USC to be able to live in such an inspiring city. 

So if you’re in the mood to be inspired, or in the mood to see some great art, or in the mood to go on a little 5 minute walk, head on over to the Natural History Museum. It is one of the many great opportunities that USC’s location offers, and it is good to take advantage of. Go walk along the 80 feet of this painting, and revel in both the ups and the downs of our city’s history. The “Sin Censura” exhibit is definitely worth a view—it is only on display until April 21, 2019, so don’t forget to seize this opportunity while it lasts! Admission into the museum is $12 for students, but if you can plan accordingly, try to go on a first Tuesday of the month, which are free admission days! Go get inspired, LA. 

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