Human Rights Through Chicano Park Murals : Home

Human Rights Through Chicano Park Murals
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What are Murals and where did they originate from?

Murals are large paintings or a large photography on the side of s buliding or strucuture. Murals are moslt used to paint inspiring people that have been involved with historical events, and also people create murals for self- expression. Murals originated from Ancient historial eras where cavemen would paint aniamls in caves, and Egyptain hieroglyphics would have painted animals, sacred symbols, and their culture. Then throughout the era of the Renaissance Gitto painted murals that looked like both the cave paintings and modern street murals. Later on during the twenieth century Diego Rivera a well known Muralist painted murals all over mexico which made murals an accepted and desired form of art. Not only are murals an art technique, but they let you acknowledge the truth behind human rights. The reason they are important around the world is because they have great meaning to historical events and they represent the honor of all kinds of people. Murals are not always made by profecional artist, many times murals are made by community members or volunteers. These murals signify the importance of communities and how people can do many things for a great cause. Murals play an important part in the struggle for human rights worldwide by letting people see the truth of many situations that have been going on for a long time but people everywhere are not aware of them. Murals are a kind of developing art that is self spoken. If people see murals not only would they see history but they will see problems that are similar to one ones going on today.

Creativity is not something separate from life, or that has to be in a special place. Art is a spiritual thing connected to all people." -Roderick Sykes (Muralist)

Where is Chicano Park?

Chicano park is a 7.9 acre park located beneth the san diego-cordonado brige in logan heights. Chicano park has 67 insipring murals, as well as sculptures and other artistic earthworks. Chicano park is known for it's strive to empower the mind and soul through it's murals. established by chicano activists on april 22, 1970, chicano park has received international acclaim as a major outdoor public art site for its commanding mural paintings of the past and present struggle of mexican and chicano history.

HOW THE MURALS IN CHICANO PARK CAME TO BE:

In the early 1960's Torres and fellow artist Victor Ochoa Were both enrolled at San Diego State in the studio arts program. During this time Torres Met Jose Montoya, a student of commercial art at San Diego city college. Torres moved to Oakland where he persued his passion for art. Torres then graduated from the college of arts and crafts and became an art instructor. After living in Oakland for six years, Torres returned to San Diego. Then a after returing he was hospitalized for six months for tuberculosis. When Torres was finally released from the hospital, he returned to Barrio Logan, and witnessed the massive concrete bridge pylons piercing the heart of his community. His home had been destroyed by the construction.

The first group of murals were painted for chicano park day in 1974, and the second group was painted by members of the Royal Chicano Air Force in the spring of 1975. In 1977 the third mural phase evolved. To make sure the educational content of the murals, designs were approved by the chicano park steering committee. A second phase during the of the third time painting murals was to invite non-chicano artist to paint in the park.

WHAT ARE HUMAN RIGHTS?

The basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled, often held to include the right to life and liberty, freedom of thought and expression, and equality before the law.