The School of Arts and Enterprise Middle School 295 N. Garey Ave.Pomona, CA 91767
Miripolsky took a large white stucco building and turned it into a canvas for the work he calls “Pomonacopia,” an abstract work that plays with contrasting shapes and although it’s abstract, the mural is filled with symbols.
Inspired by Pomona, the Roman Goddess of Fruit, and the area’s rich agricultural history, the artist used yellow, orange, purple and green dots and shapes to represent citrus, grapes and other fruits. Arrows of different colors are part of the design. “There are lots of arrows,” he said. The arrows are “iconic symbols for positive direction.”
Some arrows point up and others point to the main entrance of to the middle school’s building, a place where youth will find the tools and knowledge that will lead to successful futures, Miripolsky said.
“It’s all about directing kids into an art education,” he said.
Colorful, curving stripes represent roadways that lead to Pomona, he said. And then there are the horn-shaped cones, the cornucopia, the symbol of plenty.
Three artists have been part of Miripolsky’s mural team: Bisco Smith of Venice, Paul Juno of North Hollywood and Christian Ornelas of Pomona. Smith has been doing the mural’s outlining work. Smith does abstract graffiti impressionism.
Overall the project is “joyous and positive, but it’s really big,” Miripolsky said. (Retrieved from "School Mural Adds Color to Downtown Pomona" by Monica Rodriguez of the Inland Valley Bulletin)
Andre Miripolsky’s keen understanding of pop imagery and energy launched a dynamic career that resulted in work with Elton John (the famous 1980 Concert in Central Park “Piano Keys” costume) and Bette Midler (album package/visual design for her 1982 worldwide “DeTour”), as well as Quincy Jones, The Rolling Stones, Gato Barbieri, Robin Williams, Beastie Boys, Cheap Trick, MTV, and “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno. For thirty years, he has continued to explore and discover creative wonders in his Kingdom of Color.
Miripolsky serves on the boards of the L.A. Art Alliance, the Downtown Artwalk, and the Hollywood Arts Council. First 3 Photos © Isabel Rojas-Williams | Last two photos © Andre Miripolsky