La Tierra de la Culebra | Highland Park Neighborhood, Los Angeles, CA | 1992 - Present

La Tierra de la Culebra (“The Land of the Serpent”) is the first ArtPark and environmental learning center that Ward created upon relocating to Los Angeles County in 1992. Following the civil unrest of the LA Riots, Ward realized there were few public spaces for community gathering within residential neighborhoods. La Culebra, as it’s commonly called, was founded on a privately owned vacant lot being used as the neighborhood’s unofficial garbage dump. In a series of initial neighborhood council meetings community members described a sense of disenfranchisement and frustration underlying the riots in their neighborhood, and they together imagined into reality a new community-focused landscape.

The ArtPark’s central symbol of strength and regeneration is a 450 ft. sculptural serpent constructed from concrete, piqué tiles and river rocks found on site. The shape of the serpent’s path connects three elevated terraces, creating discrete areas for outdoor classrooms, an amphitheater, and additional landscaped elements such as a pond and mosaicked benches. The site also features a large mural garden and numerous landscaped beds containing indigenous plants and flowers.

Construction of the serpent unfolded over 10 years and involved both countless neighborhood volunteers and the dedicated support of diverse local and national funding partners. In 2003 La Tierra de la Culebra was registered as an official park with the City of Los Angeles’ Department of Parks and Recreation, becoming the first officially zoned “open space” in a residential neighborhood. This set the precedent for the adaption of anti-loitering legislation, which had previously targeted non-white communities by denying their right to public assembly.

To this day, La Tierra de la Culebra is an active site where one can find community-generated programming, celebrations, alternative education, and civic engagement. It is maintained by the all-volunteer La Culebra Action League.

the site

early site overview

first rendition of the Incised Ziggurat (sculptural element of La Culebra)

construction of the amphitheater

early documentation of the serpent

excavating the site and found object sculpture

pathways

the pond

bench at the base of the ampitheater

corn offering to the spirits of the elders

altar offering to the spirits of La Culebra

the ceremonial circle

sunrise at the ziggurat

community builders

prepping wood for "the grotto"

Community programs

summer solstice program banner

fall equinox celebration, organized by the Cuauhtemoc dance troupe and Culture Clash

fall equinox celebration

folklorica dancers

first community blessing of La Culebra

equinox celebration

community celebration

danza class

African drummers

youth drummers performing for a community celebration

youth drummers

sand painting

mural class

community arts programming

solstice dawn ceremony

open play

youth gardening class

project participants

A Celebration for John Maroney

In June of 2011 the Culebra community gathered to honor the passing of one of its founding members, John Maroney. John was an architect who was also instrumental to facilitating peaceful communications between community residents and the city organizing bodies. The ceremony was lead by Judith Garcia, Culebra's resident dance teacher, along with her dance troupe Cuauhtemoc.

Watch an interview with Ward about the building of La Tierra de la Culebra on KCET Departures

La Tierra de la Culebra is located at 240 S. Avenue 57, Los Angeles CA 90042