Chicano Murals in the ‘80s (working title) at LA Plaza de Culturas y Artes

March 10, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT:  Angie Castro, (213) 703-2823

LA PLAZA DE CULTURA Y ARTES SALUTE TO PACIFIC STANDARD TIME CULMINATES 

WITH CHICANO ART IN THE 80’S EXHIBIT AND FAMILY PROGRAMMING 

March 10 to April 16, 2012

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 29, 2012) – In partnership with the Social and Public Art Resource Center and the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes’  salute to Pacific Standard Time culminates with a “Transforming Public Art: Chicanos in the ’80s exhibit and special events March 10 to
April 16, 2012.

The Transforming Public Art exhibit showcases the work by Chicano muralists, who contributed to one of the most powerful and significant achievements in 20th century art.  While these artists remained largely absent from the mainstream art world, their work has been critical to the establishment of Los Angeles as one of the mural capitals of the world.

The exhibit features mural details and other projects by featured ‘80s artists, and explores the mural-making process.  Visitors are encouraged to explore the public and socially engaged works that shaped art in Los Angeles.  Exhibit featured muralists include:

• •Glenna Boltuch Avila
• •Judith F.  Baca
• •Barbara Carrasco
• •East Los Streetscapers (David Botello, Wayne Alaniz Healy, and George Yepes)
• •East Los Streetscapers ( Wayne Alaniz Healy)
• •Judithe Hernández
• •Willie Herrón
• •Eloy Torrez

RELATED PROGRAMMING

Saturday, March 10, 2012, 12pm-4pm:  A Celebration of the ‘80s Muralist

Discover how Chicano artists used preliminary drawing and studies in pencil and charcoal to create murals that emphasized cultural/familial identity, historical connections and political commentaries.  Family tours of Transforming Public Art: Chicano Murals in the ‘80s will be available.  Listen to the music of the ‘80s and participate in a mural inspired workshop.

Saturday, March 10, 2012, 3pm-5m:  Conversation with the Artists – Transforming Public Art: Chicano Murals in the ‘80s. Judith F. Baca, Professor, Cesar E. Chavez Center, UCLA and Artistic Director of the Social and Public Resource Center (SPARC) will serve as moderator.  Panelists include Glenna Boltuch Avila, Artist and Director of the Community Arts Partnership (CAP) at CalArts, Eloy Torrez, Artist and Singer/Songwriter, and Willie Herrón, Artist/Designer and Singer/Songwriter.

Sunday, March 11, 2012, 1pm-3pm

Celebrate the style and elegance of vintage cars, by Marcos’ Garage, designed and inspired by the Zoot Suit generation. Listen to singer and songwriter Mark Guerrero performs “Pachuco Boogie”.   Watch the dynamics of LA Dance Events as they demonstrate swing dance of the 1940s. Create your own art work in the genre of the ‘40s.

Sunday, March 11, 2012, 3pm-5pm

Alma Martinez, Professor of Theatre Arts, Pomona College and actress will introduce the1981 film Zoot Suit, written and directed by Luis Valdez.  Zoot Suit offers insight into American history topics including, post World War II race relations, immigration, assimilation. Discover how Zoot Suitors asserted themselves with fabric and made statements of defiance. Spot light tours of LA Starts Here! will highlight the Zoot Suit installation.

Sunday, March 25, 2012, 1pm-4pm

Discover the Mexican American Art tradition of murals during the ‘80s by using the exhibition Transforming Public Art: Chicanos in the ‘80s as inspiration. Participants will focus on how to see their design and translate it onto paper. Examine how the walls of Los Angeles became a canvas for social and political statements. Family tours of the galleries will be available. Enjoy Mexican American music from the 1980s.

The mission of LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes is to celebrate and cultivate an appreciation for the enduring and evolving influence of Mexican and Mexican American culture, with a specific focus upon the unique Mexican American experience in Los Angeles and Southern California. 

Located near the site where Los Angeles was founded in 1781, LA Plaza’s 2.2-acre campus includes two historic and newly renovated buildings (the Vickrey-Brunswig Building and Plaza House) surrounded by 30,000 square feet of public garden.

LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes is located at 501 N. Main Street, L.A. CA 90012.  For information, visit lapca.org

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