LA General Medical Center has a long and storied history of providing health and medical services for greater Los Angeles. LA General Child Care Center is located directly west of the iconic General Hospital in Boyle Heights. The Child Care Center, designed around a courtyard shaded by a 100-year-old, protected oak tree, provides a nurturing and secure environment for children from 6 months old through pre-K.
The cover of artist Andrew Hem’s community coloring zine depicts the digital painting, On the Same Team – the mural he created for the exterior wall of the Child Care Center. In this painting, Hem conveys the community's desire for a bond of trust when individuals can rely on each other for collective efforts. He states that the metaphor of the jump rope conveys this message most effectively as group jump rope is a game without rivalry or competitiveness, where children work together to create a rhythm together.
Hem purposely depicted diverse children playing in a fantastical landscape familiar to Boyle Heights to evoke wonder and fantasy. In his Community Coloring Zine, Hem expands on these themes and invites family participation to build inclusivity and community.
Download a printable PDF of this coloring zine.