2001 Newsroom Archive

Community Celebration Marks Restoration of Historic Hispanic Mural At South Side Community Park Oct. 20

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--The public is invited to join costumed Aztec dancers, community leaders and artist with the Royal Chicano Air Force for a free, three-hour celebration from noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 20, to celebrate the restoration of the South Side park Mural at the Callahan Memorial Amphitheater at 7th and T streets.

Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo and City Council member Joseph Yee will preside over the festivities that will unveil and re-dedicate the fully restored , larger-than-life mural that local artist with the Royal Chicano Air Force originally created in 1977 at the South Side park. During the past 24 years, the mural has been damaged and tagged with graffiti, but a $90,000 grant from Sacramento housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) paid for the restoration of the mural and the amphitheater.

The community celebration is sponsored by the City of Sacramento Neighborhood Services Department, the city's Parks and Recreation Department and City Council District 4.

Six of the original artist from the Royal Chicano Air Force reunited this summer to undertake this project, including Juan Cervantes, Jose Montoya, Lorraine Garcia Nakata, Juanishi Orosco, Stan Padilla and Esteban Villa. The artist will be on hand during the celebration Oct. 20th to share an oral history of the project that was originally created to give the neighborhood respect and provide safe zone area for the community. The artist will also be selling autographed posters of the mural.

Fun activities for the entire family are planned, including live musical a special performance by Aztec dancers. The South Side Park Neighborhood Association and the Guadalupanas Society will sell food at the event to benefit their community organizations. This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Larry Cyrus at (916) 264-8193.