The Wall Project: Berlin To Los Angeles

aharvey2k's Flickr photostream/Creative Commons

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, The Wende Museum developed the Wall Project, in which eight sections of the Berlin Wall were relocated to Los Angeles, and an adjacent symbolic wall was built, painted by artists and torn down for the project's culmination last night.

Had I known about the project earlier, I definitely would have attended what sounds like an amazing event, which featured films, music, dignitaries and special guests.  Fortunately for those of us who missed the event there is still plenty to explore on The Wall Project website, including related events and interviews with Thierry Noir, the first artist to paint on the Berlin Wall, as well as a border guard and Cold War political prisoner. 

The symbolic recreation of the wall was painted by a number of artists, including Shepard Fairey, and was temporarily erected across Wilshire Blvd., dividing the East and West sides of Los Angeles. The original sections of the Wall will be on display in front of the Los Angeles County Museum through this week.

As we look back to the fall of the Cold War's most infamous icon, the Wall Project is an excellent way to honor those who were affected by, and struggled to overcome the divisive structure, and serves as a reminder to work towards removing other barriers, physical or not, that divide us as humans.

Watch the video below of the installation ceremony for the Wall Project and use the action link below to learn more about the Wende Museum and the Cold War.