The poster presents four figures of focus varying from a younger and older Chunky to a heart with an arrow and a picture of Rebecca Romero. The picture also sets the image of Chicano Park in the background as it reveals a pillar housed in the park. The artist of the poster makes these four figures of the subject of the poster as they are placed in an orderly manner. The artist intends for Chunky to be the primary subject and focus of the poster as he paints an image of Chunky his young and old age to commemorate the work and music he has been contributing to the community. The artist wants us to take notice of the hurt and hole Chunky’s death has left in the Chicanx Movement and the connection of Chicano Park that was made. The bleeding heart represents the pain and the joy of Chunky all at once. The bleeding signifies the hurt and the hole that has been left in the community but also the big heart Chunky had. Chunky’s heart was so big that it bled for all of those within his community and those who were not in his community. The artist of this painting wants to showcase the importance of this figure and all the work he has done in relation to advancing the livelihood of others. Chunky was present at the founding and building of Chicano Park and the artist honors this work he forged in creating and maintaining a powerful and strong community for those to feel seen. When one looks at the poster of Chunky, it makes his work at the picket line with Caesar Chavez during the Farm Workers’ movement known, his community work, his music, and his activism for Chicano rights. The artist visualizes the importance of Chunky’s work and expresses his imagery as inspiration for all within the community to continue the work he has started and has passed down to future generations.

The dimensions of this poster reveal a celebration of human history and the honoring and remembrance of a local hero who shaped the human history local contemporaries learn and embrace.The poster reveals how Chunky was able to move the community with his music.This poster reveals the sound of his music is carried with him until his death. The poster reveals the sound of heartbreak as we hear cries of the community represented by a heart with an arrow in passing. The community cries in celebration of the life of a man who brought uplifting music and poetry to life through song. The song and music he brings is honored and upheld at Chicano Park as Chunky showcases in this celebration of Chicano Park Day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNLLMdqlGaw

Chunky’s music and voice lives through the poster as his contagious smile puts a smile and laughter on the faces of those who knew him and the community. His music serves as a reminder of the history and fight for Chicano Park and building it in becoming what we know as today. Ramon Chunky Sanchez might not be here with us today but his legacy of love, laughter, and music resonates with us and serves as a reminder of what community can look like and achieve even when dealing with heartbreak. We cry tears of celebration for the life Chunky lived and the sounds of love, empowerment, and community he was able to bring to us and still brings to us.

An overarching message that comes from sections of both sight and sound is to celebrate and honor our history. When we think back to what started the Chicano Movement in the 1960’s and all those who fought for the restoration of land, farmworker rights and Chicano empowerment, it is clear that their struggles and ability to endure in the face of adversity allowed us to be where we are today. By simply looking at this poster and relying on sight alone, it is obvious that Chunky played a key role in establishing and maintaining a sense of community. He empowered those around him and held their spirits high. One of the other main objects in the poster is the heart with the arrow across it. This symbolizes the place Chunky has during this era- he truly was at the heart of it just like the subtitle, “El Corazón del Pueblo” suggests. His ability to touch and impact anybody who crossed paths with him demonstrates his commitment to his people and endearing personality. Even his nickname is proof of this- “Chunky”. Anybody else would have had a similar nickname might have taken offense by it, but not Chunky. In Mexican tradition, it is customary to give nicknames, or apodos, to those who are close to your heart. It is a form ofaffection so the fact that his community knew him mainly as Chunky, shows that he was close to so many people and was cared for deeply. Even though Chunky passed away and is no longer with us, his legacy lives on through those who knew him, the stories we tell about him, and the music he wrote for his community. The sonic dimensions of this poster also point to Chunky’s great artistic talents and ability to connect with others through music. He shows us the power that music can have in social justice movements and Chunky himself used his music as a platform to express the concerns and causes of the community. In the annual Chicano Park Day celebration, it is only right to acknowledge one of Chunky’s best-known pieces: “Chicano Park Samba”. This song didn’t take long in becoming an anthem for the Chicano Park community as it narrates the struggles involved in creating this space in San Diego. He tells the story of how a little piece of land under the Coronado Bridge came to be what we know of as today Chicano Park. In this piece, he vividly describes the image and hopes he had for this space through the following lyrics,

“A park where all the chavalitos could come and play in so they wouldn’t have to play in the street anymore and get run over by a car. A park where all the viejitos could come and just sit down and watch the sun go down in the tarde. A park where all the familias could come and just get together on a Sunday afternoon and celebrate the spirit of life itself.”

Overall, this poster teaches us that there is power in struggle and community. Chicano Park represents the retaking of Aztlan land and experience tied to place. When we consider place as a narrative, we speak to community struggles and values. Through active subjectivity, we recognize the power of place as embracing the stories of people before us and keeping them alive through our remembrance of them. That being said, the “call to action” conveyed in this poster is to practice this active subjectivity through the retelling of stories, memories and history tied to place in order to remember cultural icons such as Chunky and their pivotal role in being a voice for the Chicano community, inspiring Chicano empowerment and being at the heart of the movement or better yet, El Corazón del Pueblo.

These videos shine a light on the important work Chunky conducted during his life to change, entertain, educate, and fight for his community:

Los Alacranes – Chicano Park:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_wB3iGF58M

Chunky Sanchez Honored in San Diego & Nationally:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlda2EEGcR0

Remembering Chunky Sanchez – Ken Kramer’s About San Diego
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRROiT3I_Kw

Written by King Nyembo and Gaby Rivera