Chicano Art Movement

16th May 2013

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CHICANO ART MOVEMENT curated project #1

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Tagged: chicano artmexican-american artxicana artchicanocontemporary art

1st May 2013

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CHICANO ART MOVEMENT: City of Coachella’s longest Chicano/Mexican historical timeline mural.

City of Coachella’s longest Chicano/Mexican historical timeline mural

CAM:
About a month ago I received a message from Oralia (Yaya), Founder and President of Culturas1 Music & Art through the CHICANO ART MOVEMENT Facebook page. Oralia wrote to me about the project which she was working on with her city. The endeavor she spoke to me about was the longest Chicano/Mexican historical timeline mural in the City of Coachella, California. What interested me about Culturas1 Music & Arts project was the community involvement of the beautification of their city. I wanted share what they were doing in Coachella, so I asked Oralia if she would send me some images and a write up to share with all the CHICANO ART MOVEMENT readers and beyond to help promote the feat they are on the verge of accomplishing.

If you would like to visit City of Coachella’s longest Chicano/Mexican historical timeline mural it is located at: 85-471 Bagdad Ave on Shady Lane. Or if you would like Information for tours or questions can be addressed to Ruben Gonzalez, Projects Coordinator or email Culturas1 Music & Art.

Artists, Curators, galleries and museums! Culturas1 Music & Art is looking for Chicano and Mexican art exhibitions to travel to their city. If you have a exhibition which you would like to show to the Coachella Valley masses connect with them.
As Oralia (Culturas Music & Art) said: “It would be awesome to see what the great City of Los Angeles is doing and expose the beautiful arte that is being created or have creating for years.”
Contact them here: culturas1@aol.com

More images at: CHICANO ART MOVEMENT Facebook page
via Culturas Music & Arts:
Culturas Music & Arts (CMA), mission is to support all individuals to form strong positive community values, cultural understanding, and artistic awareness within themselves and others by ensuring a safe, healthy, educational environment that promotes art, music, dance, and theater.
In 2008 a small group of local Coachella residents were concerned with the lack of public art programs in our community. Culturas Music & Arts was formed to try and addressed those issues.

In the late 70’s early 80’s a mural was painted depicting Chicano History by Artistas del Valle, a group of young Chicano artists. The Chicano mural was never finished due to lack of funds. Years passed and the mural began to fade and wall began to collapse, years later a new wall took its place.
In 2009 CMA began to organize to replace a whole new mural. We submitted a proposal to the City of Coachella for funding of material and paint. CMA requested and posted a call for artists. All artists would be on a volunteer basis. A panel of 3 committee members would oversee and would be responsible for picking the artists. Each artist was assigned a 6’ x 50” panel and was given a historical timeline to research, and then an accurate sketch of the timeline had to be submitted for approval. Once approved, the artist would either sketch free hand or project in black and white, and then sketched. The research provided an opportunity to gain knowledge of important events; contributions and struggles Chicano/Mexicans people. Each panel is different in style and shows the individual talents and styles of each artist. The mural (research was done) is the second longest historical timeline mural in California that we know of and we are proud to have painted in the City of Coachella. The mural actually began in 2011.

The beginning of the mural reads; this mural is dedicated to the mystic City of Aztlan and the great people of the Mexica, past, present and future.
Artists and their timeline;
Pre-Columbian; Victor Pacillo & Chris Pacillo
Colonization; Chris Sanchez
Mexican Independence; Cuahtemoc Aldrete
Mexican/Spanish War; The Alamo, Los Ninos Heros, Cece & Ryan Bowens.
French/Mexican War; Cinco De Mayo, Sal Gomez, George Mendez, Pedro Facio
Mexican Revolution; “Dreamer” (sketch), Kimberley Garcia, Keila Cupil,
Mexican Folklore; Cortez, Vasquez, Murrieta; Frank & Oscar Lemus
Zoot Riots, Chavez Ravine; Gina Ortega, Johnny Esquivel
War 1&11, Chris Redman, Moe Ramos, Robbie Ochoa, Jerry Cervantes
Mexican Artists, Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Jose Cemente Sequiros, David A. Orozco, Lorena Carrington; Princess Ramirez
A small mural of La IIorna; Princessa Ramierz
Mosic of the Virgen; Ruben R Gonzalez
Mexican Golden Era of Music & Film; Keila Cupil
The Braceros Period; Joe Noe Hernandez
Chicano Music Wave; Date Farmers
Chicanos in Vietnam; Chris Redman, Landon Johnson
Cesar Chavez & UFW’s; Jesus Gonzalez, Octavio Gonzalez
Chicano Movement; Raices Members, Gabriel Perez, Carlos Gonzalez, Tone Rubio
Lowrider Movement; (Still need to be finished) Jerry Cervantes, Robbie Ochoa, J J Perez,
Chicanos in Government and leadership; Jesus Olivares
At the end of the mural, some small images of Chicanos in education
Around the corner of the wall an image of Aztec Peloteros and images of the 52 cycles, (Which is pretty interesting because the mural ends in the corner of Ave 52).

Besides these artists there have been many volunteers, often local residents who just wanted to assist, help paint something. It’s been a great journey. I find it a relief that we are almost done, yet there is sadness. The mural has been our life, we slept, drank mural. But, I must say I can’t wait to finish it up in the next two weeks so we can start a new project.

Photos courtesy of: Bri Urena

More info on CMA visit: Culturas1 Music & Art Facebook

Tagged: coachellachicano artmexican artcoachella valleymural