Victor Ochoa is a widely recognized Chicano muralist who is one of the pioneers of San Diego’s Chicano art movement. He was the co-founder and director of the Centro Cultural de la Raza in Balboa Park, which is a community-based art center devoted to preserving Mexican, Indigenous and Chicano art and culture. He is one of the first people to paint a mural in Chicano Park, which is located in Barrio Logan (Victor Ochoa Discusses First Murals Painted at Chicano Park). The Chicano Park Takeover poster clearly illustrates Chicano Park, in which the Coronado Bridge and Interstate 5 run on top of it. This neighborhood is made up of mostly Mexican immigrants and Chicanos. When the city decided to build the bridge within Barrio Logan many people took up arms and fought against it (Victor Ochoa Advocating for Immigrant Rights). When the Chicano Park Takeover occured, Victor thought that painting on the concrete freeway pillars would allow for them to get the word out about the Chicano movement. Victor wanted to represent the past, while also looking to the future through his murals. This particular poster shows the strength the Chicano movement has, because even though these huge pillars were placed in the center of Chicano Park, they used the blank concrete canvases to illustrate their culture. The movement of the lines within the bridge represents the disruptive, attention grabbing and noisiness of the cars passing by. However, the colors speak to the vibrant culture that outshines all the noisiness above. This poster represents the resilience, persistence and strength of the Chicano Movement. There is an importance of historical and community elements the murals hold and preserve of the Chicano Movement throughout the park. When reflecting on Chicano Park, songs that embody its sound and vibrant culture are Malo’s “Suavecito” and Bacilos “Crónica de Una Inmigración Anunciada”. Victor’s works of art exemplify why many members of the community call him “El Maestro”, he is a master of his craft (Victor Ochoa – Mural Maestro of Chicano Park). The image makes you reflect about the history of the Chicano Movement, while also educating and engaging you in what the future holds. The resiliency of standing up for your community and for your people not only shines through the Chicano Movement, but is clearly represented throughout all the murals painted in Chicano Park.

LINKS:
Interview w/ Victor Ochoa (Interview w/ Victor Ochoa)

https://sandiegofreepress.org/2017/04/victor-ochoa-mural-maestro-of-chicano-park/#.XsCOwxNKg_U (Victor Ochoa – Mural Maestro of Chicano Park)

https://www.library.ucsb.edu/special-collections/cema/ochoa (UCSB Library Info on Victor Ochoa)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWpQDJOrzKk (Victor Ochoa Discusses First Murals Painted at Chicano Park)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd4JP7IVFO0 (Victor Ochoa Advocating for Immigrant Rights)

Written By Myah Pace, Hannah Rouret-Valencia, and Gregory Miles Viramontes