Last week, César E. Chávez Learning Academies (CCLA) in San Fernando transformed, gaining 15 new murals from reputable artists through the Branded Arts Festival.
The week ended with a celebration for students and parents, which included a blessing from Kalpulli Temachtia Quetzalcoatl Aztec dancers, an art exhibit featuring the work of both students and muralists and performances by BLK LT$ and the GR818ERS.
The GR818ERS got the party going with a street dance performance filled with backflips, handstands, popping and locking. They also got the crowd moving by bringing students, teachers and artists on stage for a dance battle.
Surrounding the auditorium were student’s artwork with everything from drawings of cartoon characters to political commentary. One student simply wrote, “This sign would be more creative but you’ve cut funding for our school.”
Muralists donated original works for a silent auction that will contribute to the remainder of the funding needed to add a protective coating for the murals and the installation of informational plaques.
Ten of the artists attended the event – Christian Garcia Perez, Desiree Sanchez (DesiBoo Creations), Erica Friend (Insomniart), Jesica Burlaza, Josh Everhorn, Juan Pablo Reyes (JP Murals), Kristy Sandoval, Levi Ponce, Ozzie Juarez and RAH Azul.
Artists Inspiring Bigger Dreams
“I’m honored to be here. To be part of something bigger than myself,” said Burlaza.
Burlaza’s mural has Sueña Grande Sueños, dream big dreams, written in bright red surrounded by colorful flowers and laid over a black background.
“I think it really inspired them to open up to the world of art and see what is possible. See what they can do with their own hands, at their own school,” said Burlaza, who had around 10 to 12 students helping her throughout the week.
CCLA’s four academies – ArTES Magnet, Social Justice Humanities Academy, Academy of Scientific Exploration and Technology Preparatory Academy – each got a mural reflecting the ethos of their school.
Juarez painted a mural on the Social Justice Humanities Academy. Depicted is a lowrider, representing Chicano culture, an eagle, illustrating Mexico and the school’s mascot, monarch butterflies, symbolizing “freedom” and the “idea of migration,” with the word “dreamer” written above.
“I grew up in a similar environment as these students,” said Juarez. “I knew what it was like to have these dreams that, maybe, I didn’t feel could be possible. Growing up I didn’t really think that being an artist was possible.”
Juarez was born in Compton and raised in South Central Los Angeles. He said the patterns he saw for people often included going to jail, falling into drug addiction or just experiencing “poverty in general.”
“It’s important to have brown bodies come and create in a school where there are primarily brown bodies,” said Juarez.
When Juarez was their age, he also had muralists visit his school and remembers how impactful it was to see people that looked like him being creative. It gave him a different perspective and idea of what his life could be. He hopes to do the same for CCLA, which is 95% Latino – to inspire them to dream for something greater and recognize their potential.
One building over, Reyes, who is from Pacoima, painted his biggest mural yet – a 50-foot astronaut on the Academy of Scientific Exploration.
Reyes said these murals are a message of hope and support for the children.
“I hope that you see yourself in me and that you’re able to go ahead and reach your own dreams,” said Reyes to the students. “Don’t give up and don’t give in.”