¡Murales Rebeldes! L.A. Chicana/o Murals under Siege
In 2015, the California Historical Society and LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes embarked on a project for the Getty’s 2017 Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA initiative—a far-reaching and ambitious exploration of Latin American and Latino art in dialogue with Los Angeles from September 2017 to January 2018 at more than 70 cultural institutions across Southern California.
The resulting exhibition, ¡Murales Rebeldes! L.A. Chicana/o Murals under Siege and publication present the dramatic stories of Los Angeles–area Chicana/o murals from the 1970s to the 1990s that were whitewashed, censored, neglected, and even destroyed. These murals challenged inequality and celebrated Chicana/o culture, making them targets of suppression.
Initially, we were drawn to the subject of murals because they connect history, art, identity, and place. We did not know how timely a book and exhibition—with themes of free speech, civil rights, and Chicana/o culture and history—would be. But as the political landscape of our country shifted during the 2016 presidential election, the urgency and importance of our project grew.
Representing these themes are the murals of Barbara Carrasco; Yreina D. Cervántez and Alma López; Roberto Chavez; Ernesto de la Loza; Willie Herrón III; Sergio O’Cadiz Moctezuma; and East Los Streetscapers (David Botello, Wayne Alaniz Healy, and George Yepes). They all endured a lack of recognition—as works of art, as a means of self-expression, and as voices with social, historical, or political relevance. ¡Murales Rebeldes! celebrates their creative spirit, the power of urban art, and truths that must be told.
About the California Historical Society
The California Historical Society, founded in 1871, is a nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire and empower people to make California’s richly diverse past a meaningful part of their contemporary lives. Headquartered in San Francisco—with our Los Angeles office at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes and Los Angeles outposts at the University of Southern California and the Autry National Center—CHS holds one of the state’s top historical collections, including some of the most cherished and valuable documents and images of California’s past, revealing California’s social, cultural, economic, and political history and development. Through high-quality exhibitions, public programs, publications, research, and preservation, CHS promotes public engagement throughout the state. Contact: info@calhist.org
About LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes is a museum and cultural center created by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and open to the public since 2011. LA Plaza explores the contributions of Mexicans, Mexican Americans, and all Latinos to the Los Angeles of the past, present, and future. These stories come to life through a range of permanent and changing exhibitions as well as educational and public programs. The LA Plaza campus includes two renovated buildings dating back to the 1880s, a large outdoor performance space, and a historic walkway. The campus is located in the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument, where the city was settled in 1781. Through its work, LA Plaza celebrates and cultivates an appreciation for the enduring and evolving history, art, and culture of Latinos in Los Angeles. Contact: adelapena@lapca.org
About Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA
¡Murales Rebeldes! L.A. Chicana/o Murals under Siege is part of Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA, a far-reaching and ambitious exploration of Latin American and Latino art in dialogue with Los Angeles, taking place from September 2017 through January 2018 at more than seventy cultural institutions across Southern California. Pacific Standard Time is an initiative of the Getty. The presenting sponsor is Bank of America.
Foundations
Major support for the exhibition and publication provided through grants from the Getty Foundation.
Additional support provided by the Annenberg Foundation and the Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts.
Individual Donors
Anonymous
Mr. & Mrs. Sandy Alderson
Edward Avila
Glenna Avila
Ted Balestreri
Karina Bart
Christian Beauvoir
Lorena Bernal
California America Water
Andy Carrasco
Michael Carson &
Ronald Steigerwalt
Robert Chattel
Bonnie Cohn
John & Ann Coil
Karen Davalos
Lloyd & Caroline De Llamas
Maria Echaveste
Rosa Echaveste
John Echeveste
Osborn N. Foster
Harry Garvin
Anthea Hartig
Pastor Herrera
James & Brenda Hofer
Jessica Hough
Martin Jauregui
Zaneta Kosiba-Vargas
Lorena Macias
Susanna MacManus
Azucena Maldonado
Richard Maullin
Christy & Stephen McAvoy
Knox & Carlotta Mellon
Patrick & Felicia Michell
Ann & O’Malley Miller
Liliana Monge
Olivia Montes
Melissa Negrete
Craig O’Connor
Veronica Ortega
Edith & George Piness
Robert & Ann Ronus
Y. Ruiz
Beatriz Salcido
Esperanza Sanchez
Ellen & Melvin Sweet
Rosabel Tao
Andrea Van de Kamp
Christopher Velasco
Robert Will
Marilyn & Richard Wulliger
Richard Zaldivar
Blanca Zarazua