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Bread and Roses

Mural Artist: Regan Russell
March 2026

“Hearts starve as well as bodies: Give us Bread but give us Roses.”

This mural was created for the community of Union Towers, a brand new affordable housing complex for low-income individuals and formerly homeless veterans in National City, with the belief that home should offer not just shelter, but beauty, dignity, and a sense of belonging. Through pattern, symbol, and composition, it tells a story that feels calm and welcoming while expressing the strength and power of the human collective.

Wheat and roses form the heart of the design, centering the historic “Bread and Roses” poem that symbolizes labor, dignity, and collective strength, the fight for both economic necessity and the beauty of a full human life. These forms move together in a broad, curving composition that fills most of the wall, emphasizing unity and shared effort. In this way, the mural reflects a deeper commitment to solidarity and housing justice, rooted in the belief that all people deserve to live with dignity and beauty.

At the top of the composition, an olive branch connects the mural to the Olivewood Clubhouse, honoring the veterans who call this place home. Framed within an arching form and backed by a circular, sun-like shape, it carries a quiet message of peace, service, warmth, and renewal.

The background features the seigaiha (say-guy-ha), a traditional Japanese wave pattern whose name means “blue sea waves,” rendered in turquoise. It honors the site’s history as a Japanese VFW Post and evokes the waters of San Diego Bay and the nearby shipyards. The repeating waves introduce rhythm and precision, echoing the care and accuracy of union craftsmanship while offering a calming visual presence.

This project would not have been possible without the vision and partnership of Wakeland Housing and Development Corporation and the San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council, whose commitment to community, labor, and dignified housing made this work a reality. Deep gratitude to lead artist Regan Russell for bringing depth, care, and meaning to every element of the design, and to all who supported, championed, and believed in this project from the start.