CA Park Featuring Che Guevara and Fidel Castro Unveils Latest Federally-Funded Renovations
- Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:27pm by
Becket Adams
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Among the faded paintings of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro, and right next to the bronze statue of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, a $1.6 million federal grant is being used to restore 18 murals in San Diego’s Chicano Park.
State of California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, Memorandum, (page 4).
The murals have brought people to the park since the 1970s, when locals first decided to take over “a small piece of barren land under the bridge” in order to defeat a plan to build a California Highway Patrol office there, according to U-T San Diego. “They negotiated with the city and state to create a park.”
Once the park came into being, some residents decided to paint colorful and vibrant murals to vent their frustration and “tell their story.”
However, because time has eaten away at some of the paintings, “Chicano” muralists have been brought in to help restore the murals (“Chicano” is a word commonly associated with ethnic pride). With $1.6 million in federal transportation enhancement money financing the project, artists have already touched up 9 of the 18 murals designated by the grant for restoration.
The project was first proposed in 1999 and funding was approved in 2002. However, work did not start until the funds became available in 2011, according to California Watch. The restoration project faced “many bureaucratic road blocks, including the need to publish a Chicano Park Mural Restoration Technical Manual,” according to La Presna San Diego.
“As a young artist I remember coming to San Diego and thinking ‘gosh I wish I could have a mural up at Chicano park,’” painter Mario Chacon said.
See a news brief on the project via NBC San Diego:
The artists working on the restoration said each painting has significant symbolism.
“What was placed at the top of the mural was a banner proclaiming the battle cry of the day,” Chacon told FOX. “The idea being that the community would build a green zone, a recreational area from here to the bay.”
Martin D. Rosen, a former senior environmental planner and cultural resource specialist for the California Department of Transportation, championed efforts to have the murals restored.
“It’s the Sistine Chapel of California,” said Rosen, according to California Watch. “I have a feeling of reverence every time I go there.”
According to Chicano Park’s official website, these are the murals that have been restored:
“Undocumented Worker 1979,” completed August, 2011.
“Chicano Park Takeover,” completed August, 2011.
“Los Ninos del Mundo,” completed August, 2011.
“Aztec Archer,” completed September, 2011.
“Varrio Logan,” completed September, 2011.
“Mujer Cosmica,” front angle.
“Mujer Cosmica,” back angle.
The “Leyes – La Familia” mural has been restored by Tomas and Maceo Montoya.
“Inlakesh” by Juanishi Orosco is the 9th mural to be restored.
“Adelita,” competed October, 2011.
On Jan. 13, 2012, media outlets in San Diego were reporting the near-completion of the park’s most recent renovation: the “All the Way to the Bay!” mural.
A walk through Chicano Park may surprise a few unsuspecting tourists. While the murals depicting the struggles of the neighborhood and the “pride of the barrio” are relatively innocuous, some visitors may be surprised to see portraits of infamous revolutionaries such as Fidel Castro or Ernesto “Che” Guevara:
But this may not come as much of a shock.
“Most murals were painted in the 1970s and reflect the political climate of the times,” reports U-T San Diego. “Cesar Chavez, Che Guevara, Benito Juarez, Frida Kahlo and Emiliano Zapata are among the celebrated.”
Chicano Park Historical Mural.
Chicano Park Historical Mural.
Side view of mural No. 41.
It’s important to note that no revolutionary icons are featured in the recently restored murals, and therefore it cannot be said that grant money was put towards restoring images of infamous revolutionaries. However, it’s unclear whether the 9 upcoming murals will feature socialist and/or communist leaders.
It seems this could go both ways.
Considering that in 2003, the state Department of Transportation was hesitant to invest federal money in a Chicano Park project that involved the word “Aztlán” (referring to U.S. land that once belonged to Mexico) because to do so might violate grant-related civil rights laws, it’s difficult to imagine the agency would be comfortable paying for the restoration of murals featuring controversial figures such as Fidel Castro or Che Guevara.
Chicano Park Steering Committee Logo
On the other hand, considering that the agency eventually decided that spending federal money on “Aztlán“-associated projects would not violate grant-related civil rights laws, and that the agency also provided Chicano Park (via a T Grant) with a bronze statue of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, it’s entirely possible that Castro and Guevara could be scheduled for a facelift.
[Editor's note: The Blaze reached out to both the company chosen to oversee the mural restoration project and the Chicano Park Steering Committee for clarification on the upcoming murals. Both were unavailable for comment.]
Emiliano Zapata in Chicano Park
Restoration artists Mario Chacon considers the murals more like history books, according to FOX.
“It’s that significant to me because it’s art for our people,” Charcon said. “It’s art of our people and for our people and [we’re] sharing it with different communities.”
See a news brief on the restoration project via KPBS San Diego:
(H/T:Weasel Zippers)
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Comments (175)
Redleg
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:13pmHey Blazers,
Report Post »here is the contact information for anyone interested in letting these fine upstanding Americanos know your opinion about them receiving YOUR money to promote AZTLAN and CHE.
Please e-mail them.
cpscchicanopark@sbcglobal.net
Disneyfan
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:11pmHow about a park honoring the fastest growing minority in the country? A park dedicated to the white, working, tax paying, Christian male.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 8:00amWhen we become the minority, there won’t be money for parks anymore.
Report Post »Popp40
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:14amSo does that mean “Affirmative Action” will now apply to white people when they are a minority?
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:10pmEmiliano Zapata was a despicable socialist tyrant:
http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/316-emiliano-zapata-1879-1919
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacienda
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:04pmIt’s nice to know that the Mexicans support socialist tyrannical murderers. No wonder the Americans don’t want them here.
Report Post »nomark
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 2:01pmVery well said. Americans don’t dislike others because of their skin color, or ethnics, but their non-American ambitions. To put this in perspective, it would be like Americans of German descent paint murals of Hitler and the SS.
Report Post »Redleg
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:04pmIf you go to the Chicano park website not the logo with the Aztlan division of the U.S. Then see the story “of the takeover”. I went to Wall-mart the other day and saw a poor Mexican women with 2 strollers and 4 other kids. I wonder how in CA she can afford to raise them. I saw how they acted (wild) and realized America is doomed.Cali is already gone. They fly the Mexican flag at the Santa Clara Co board of supes building. The politicians here ll pander to the Mexican vote. You should see Mike Honda, practically has the Mexican flag tatted on his fat ass. As soon as I can retire we are running as everywhere here reeks of barrio. Talk about racists, they HATE anglos. they don’t hide their contempt. You try and be nice and they treat you like crap.Wonder why since they fled a system and society hat failed them, yet they want to change this to the same thing. Any Mexicans want to comment on this?
Report Post »Disneyfan
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:13pmSan Andrea’s Fault Line. An instant new US border.
Report Post »KingDork
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:29pmI know, I live here and see them with their litter of little welfare checks (what most of us refer their kids as). They get more from handouts than anyone that actually works hard. Most of them do work but under the table so they can get their handout from the gov. Yes they are racist as can be. I can’t tell you how many jobs I had where they clan together and straight up insult and bash anyone of a different race. Mind you it’s the legal latinos that actually came in the right way… those are the respectful ones. But sadly the most you ever see are the illegals and their generations of ungrateful parasites.
His_Way
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 10:33pmEveryday we see another manifestation of our countries illnesses. Have the lunatics taken over the Asylum? This country is sliding so fast into moral and financial bankruptcy it’s crazy to just keep up with it all. And WE are spending money we don’t have on garbage like this? Meanwhile.. 15..16 ..17 trillion debt, “just the tip of the iceberg” for you, me and our grandchildren. The “unofficial debts are massive compared to the official debt” explains Laurence J. Kotlikoff who served as a senior economist on President Reagan’s Council of Economic Advisers. When you “add up all the promises that have been made for spending obligations, including defense expenditures, and you subtract all the taxes that we expect to collect, the difference is $211 trillion. That’s the fiscal gap,”
Report Post »mindeye
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 10:55pmI am an American (period). I believe in the values that my parents taught me. To work hard, be a good citizen of the comunity, apply conservative vaules in every area of one’s life. Fight for your country. In short to be a productive American!!! I’m born on 07/03 which injects a dose of patriotism in me. My father taught me to collect gold before it was popular. My family expects the same in return. We respect others regardless of race. I disagree with the latin world glorifying Che Guevara. I have Cuban friends who tell me first hand accounts about this violent man. One of the problems that make minorities run the other direction is discouragement arising from people like you. One thing is to comment on how you disagree about the issue at hand. It’s all together a separate issue how you express it. I guess it’s true that “what is in the heart flows out of the mouth”. It scares me when I realize I am in the conservative camp with people like you. It’s unfortunate and sad to read comments like this. I just want you to know from the HORSE’S mouth!! Watch your Karma!! I don’t like that many poor Mexicans are here and causing problems on our economy. It’s sad to see ignorant people making a choice for socialism out of ignorance. The poor have always been a target by manipulative political groups. But I would like to believe that you are an educated person. You speak as if you are the superior whatever. Please behave like it! Not like some ******* redneck!
Report Post »MrMagoo
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:04pmIts San Diego,California.Eventually when the San Andreas fault decides to get nasty again,these works of art may or may not be seen again.Unless you a deep sea diver.
Report Post »KINDOFAONE
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 9:25amDon’t sign off San Diego because of Chicano Park, the vast majority of people in San Diego never go there. It sickens me that my tax money went to this but do not judge San Diego by this park. That is close to the worst part of San Diego the only people who hang out there are Chicano thugs I would not even park in the parking lot in the middle of the day to take a phone call and I went to one of the worst High Schools in San Diego County.
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:02pmNice to know that the illegal aliens in this country support murderous tyrannical Marxists.
Report Post »Mr.Fitnah
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:56pmIt isn’t Banksy.
Report Post »proantisocialist
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:56pmI think they should atleast show respect for the country that give this oppertunity,by maybe an americn flag,just sayin…
drago
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:53pm@susanna
Report Post »I know huffpo pays you well (5$’s a day, but you can inform them that that doesnt work here anymore, and never has…….
drago
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:51pmThey deface public property, which is owned by ALL legal American citizens, and call it art? If i were to paint a picture of George S. Patton on a nearby bridge here in Austin Texas, being white, i would be 10 years in jail for it……art my ass…..
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:58pmYou just like their politics. As public art goes, this stuff is really quite beautiful and it is ridiculous to claim that they “defaced” the concrete bridge stanchions that formed their canvas.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:49pmYeah that’s the way liberals would handle it…wait till night fall when everyone is asleep.
Report Post »Impenitent
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:47pmwhat? no Jack the ripper? if they are honoring murderers they should have included him…
Report Post »Barry_Soetoro_2012
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:47pmheadline should be “Govt supports Occupy”
The guy has a 99% Occupy sticker on his shirt in the interview.
Glad you got your taxpayer paid for thousands of pounds of acrylic while REAL Americans starve.
Report Post »drago
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:46pm@susanna
Report Post »See ya…….
CulpepperJosh1638
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:43pmIt just sucks how Latino’s separate themselves in San Diego. I’d love to have a mural showing people of all creed and color to go up there, but if I were to even touch it so many would cry out in horror in the community. What a shame white people are hated so much when most of us just try to reach out. Oh well, let the phasad of race wars cloud you.
Report Post »toto
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:52pmThere’s no way tax dollars should go to pay for any of this. I, and MANY others, are fed up beyond words with the Chicanos and any other group that insists that they have special privileges in this country. I have been pushed to the point that I am for the wholesale deportation of illegals.
Report Post »PJL
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:39pmwelcome to northern Mexico, that way us native California’s are be forced out.
Report Post »Lord_Frostwind
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:59pmLook on the bright side, two years after you natives are all driven out, California will look just like Mexico, probably with the Montezuma’s Revenge to go with it (We’ll rename it “brown irony”).
Report Post »Collbuzz
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:38pmGreat artistry. Appropriate in MEXICO!!
Report Post »bikerltoo
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:38pmI was just yelling about this last week…why don’t white ppl have there own spot to paint? Things being equal and all. A bunch of ppl should go down there and paint over the tagging, because that is what it is. But TAX PAYER money is beyond the pail…FED MONEY!!! Who from here put the bug in their ear?
Report Post »bikerltoo
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:37pmI was just yelling about this last week…why don’t white peoplehave there own spot to paint? Things being equal and all. A bunch of people should go down there and paint over the tagging, because that is what it is. But TAX PAYER money is beyond the pail…FED MONEY!!! Who from here put the bug in their ear? Let me know if you want to go down and print.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:35pmThis is some of the wasteful spending of tax dollars that should be cut long before they start hacking away at our military.
Report Post »Darla_K
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:49pmThat is why we must get these idiots out of office and replace them with people that realize our country is going under.
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:40pm“It must be noted that no revolutionary icons are featured in the 9 murals that have already been restored. However, it is unclear whether the other 9 murals designated for restoration depict any socialist and/or communist leaders.”
Give them a chance, hopefully they have learned something since the originals went up.
I can appreciate the art, and the park is in a Latino community. I will be positive for now.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:30pmI have to agree with you; so far the pics do not show, among the restored ones, any communist connenctions; yet knowing Obama he will make sure the rest stay.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:53pmThe place is gang central. If you aren’t mexican, your a victum. It’s just under the east side of the Coronado Bridge. Use the freeway to access the bridge.
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:03pmlol @ Chips,
I am not in the habit of California bashing…I mean…I am sure there are 4-5 good people still left in that state… But you couldn’t force me to go into Calif. at gunpoint…I will stay here on the right coast, thanks anyway…
Report Post »booger71
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 10:11pmFidel Castro or Ernesto “Che” Guevara
Report Post »———————–
Really no communist connections? These two clowns above murdered hundreds of thousands of their own people
Sam Brown
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:37pmAnd I bet they hire Chinese workers to do the restoration LOL
Report Post »Idahosauce
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:37pmSeriously, wall california off and when the fires and smoke clear, Americans can go back in and rebuild a Republic..
Report Post »His_Way
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:44pmCan you say “GHETTO”?
I live in San Diego, I don’t appreciate this “art”, don’t appreciate that part of our city, and will never appreciate their racist gang community.
A $1.6 million complete corrupt waste of all of our money!!!
@ Rightpolitically -You are absolutely correct!
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:32pmBut don’t dare place a Christian symbol there about.
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:39pmYeah, the aclu will come running like Gomer Pyle…Separation of church and state!…Separation of church and state!…Citizen’s arrest!!
Report Post »Redleg
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:52pmYeah but Mexican flags all over the place is perfectly fine. Why don’t Mexican Americans stand up against this?
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