Cultura y Revolucion, Peace and Rememberance
“Do you dream the American Dream? Did it get lost somewhere? That’s what a poem on a west side wall asks the reader. To muralist Raul Valdez, it seems like the answer might be yes to both questions. While issues of poverty, violence, incarceration, uneven justice, greed, and lack of education are all around them, la familia, surrounded by their own insulating cocoon of cultural memory, fights back against overwhelming odds. The parents may not see that dream come true but will do everything they can to see that it does for future generations.
C y R Artist: Raul Valdez
2004
This mural was designed and painted by a team of middle school girls. It was their idea to honor those who had died of violence in their neighborhood. They walked door to door and collected five pages of victims’ names in just two blocks.
While the symbolism, composition, and painting are not as sophisticated as in many of the other murals we have seen, it does a good job in reflecting some of the more simple messages of peace associated with the Christian faith. The power of the names listed to the left cannot be denied, though
Neighbors have a procession to this mural every year on Día de los Muertos to add one name from that year’s tragic toll and take time to remember those whose names are already there
The mural was restored in 2019 and Crystal Torres, who as a middle schooler had been on the original crew in 2001, served as the lead artist.
P and R Artists:Katy Bone, Angela Ibarra, Julie Ibarra, Crystal Torres, Janette Torres, Patti Radle
2001
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