I was lucky enough to participate in the Mexico Border Trip orchestrated by Poly and my fabulous teachers. The plan was that in January a combination of Poly students and PFS students (who came from a variety of Pasadena schools) would come together to cross the US/Mexican border and observe the border crisis firsthand.
In the four days of our travels, we talked to a variety of people that were affected by the border crisis in very different ways. The first group we heard from was a group of deported veterans ( people that had served in the US military but were deported back to Mexico) This was usually caused by a minor infraction, but ultimately, the sacrifice they had made for America was overlooked. These veterans had given their lives to protecting the US, but in the eyes of the government, were seen as disposable. I don’t think our group of students was prepared for the intensity of the stories they had heard and were going to hear but i think it became clear very quickly that so many people’s lives were completely transformed due to the crisis. We also heard from members of Olin Cali, which is a legal service provided for exploited union workers, we heard from mothers and children from Las Madres Asuntas, a shelter for families who are so impoverished that it has become cheaper to buy new clothes every couple of days than pay to wash them at a laundromat.
One of the most impactful experiences we had as a group was participating in the church service situated directly along the border. We were there when the people were supposed to see their families across the border, but it had been cancelled by whichever group controlled the border. It was heartbreaking to know that families who already saw each other very rarely due to restrictions could not see each other during the small fraction of time allotted. However, we hope we brought some humor to the church because they asked us to sing, and our version of Lean on Me was not the best.
Additionally, along the border, we worked at Friendship Park, the binational garden which represents unity and connectedness. Coincidentally, a week or so before we got to the garden, the US had ripped up their side and neglected to even tell the gardener on the Mexican side that they were going to do that.
These are only a few of the experiences our group had, but I think it’s evident that each person we spoke to was memorable and provided us with unique perspectives. Unfortunately, we were planning on speaking to a group of border patrol agents, but they had to “cancel” at the last minute. Shocker. Many of us had hoped to get an opposite perspective on the border crisis or at least a contrasting idea, but I think deep down we knew that they wouldn’t have been as revealing as we wanted.
Before the Covid -19 outbreak, the Mexico Border Trip was getting ready to present our reflections from our experiences through a symposium that combined art, news, politics and our own interpretations. I spoke specifically about the art we saw and what I gained as an artist myself from the trip.
Before we even crossed the border into Mexico, we spent a few hours at Chicano Park in Logan Heights, San Diego. Logan Heights is also San Diego’s oldest Mexican-American neighborhood. The park features more than 80 paintings on a total of seven acres. I recently asked a couple of people if they had heard of it, and they all said no. It makes sense that few people had heard of it, as it resides under a highway and is obscured from passer bys. It was only declared a national monument in 2017, so it is fairly new as a monument, but the park has been around since the 70’s.
It has typically been a place for parties, festivals, art galleries and more, but historically has been a place where social and political movements were addressed, specifically pertaining to the Mexican-American population. This status “recognized the artistic, cultural and sociopolitical significance of the park and preserved the space for future generations.”
The importance of Chicano Park to San Diego is best summed up by the late Ramon "Chunky" Sanchez, much-loved activist, musician and creator of the heartfelt anthem, "Chicano Park Samba": "There's an energy there that's hard to describe—when you see your people struggling for something positive, it's very inspiring. The park was brought about by sacrifice and it demonstrates what a community can do when they stick together and make it happen."
Over the years, Chicano Park has seen its fair share of protestors. Many far-right groups have claimed that the park is anti-American and threaten to paint the murals white. In fact, these groups have succeeded a few times and have destroyed art that has a lot of historical and cultural significance. They literally white wash the park. The tension on both sides of the border is much higher than it is elsewhere, so it is instrumental that there is representation on both sides if we ever hope to solve the border crisis.
The park is seen as a source of strength and support for the Mexican-Americans living so near the border. The murals portray the struggles and triumphs of the people, and the park exemplifies resistance against the city of San Diego. It has been 50 years since the murals have been painted. And more are added every few years. The park has built both a legacy and an entire movement.
It references history, and culture and success in a way that demonstrates to the viewers what is important to know.
The park is a perfect example of beauty that has been created from something seemingly ugly. The park itself is colorful and tells a story. Many of the older murals feature Aztec gods, scenes demonstrating the struggles of farm labor workers and femininity in a god-like yet monstrous form. As an artist, I was very fascinated by the murals at Chicano Park, but I also started to question the importance of murals and wonder about the power they can have on both the viewer and the creator. Murals ultimately act as collective thought spaces. They can create dialogue around a subject or community issue through what they depict.
When I first started walking around the park, I actually felt pretty scared and overwhelmed. I mean these murals are huge pieces of art with eyes that seem to follow you and blood and sweat in almost every mural. I actually felt very disconnected because I realized how little I knew about Aztec culture and Mexican-American history, and I couldn’t relate to the stories of hardship, perseverance and success. I really couldn’t relate to it at all. But I think that was one of the powers of this park. It draws you in and makes you want to know more and attempt to understand the emotion behind the murals. I think that is really how murals bring people, cultures, and nations together.
Anybody that goes to the park will have an experience, whether it like mine or completely different, but no matter what, there is no denying the beauty of the murals at Chicano Park. I also wanted to mention that I don’t think anybody will ever be able to fully understand somebody else’s experience or story, but I think there’s real value in trying and being an attentive listener and showing that you care.
Thank you again, Poly, teachers, students and friends. This was an incredible experience and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity.
In the four days of our travels, we talked to a variety of people that were affected by the border crisis in very different ways. The first group we heard from was a group of deported veterans ( people that had served in the US military but were deported back to Mexico) This was usually caused by a minor infraction, but ultimately, the sacrifice they had made for America was overlooked. These veterans had given their lives to protecting the US, but in the eyes of the government, were seen as disposable. I don’t think our group of students was prepared for the intensity of the stories they had heard and were going to hear but i think it became clear very quickly that so many people’s lives were completely transformed due to the crisis. We also heard from members of Olin Cali, which is a legal service provided for exploited union workers, we heard from mothers and children from Las Madres Asuntas, a shelter for families who are so impoverished that it has become cheaper to buy new clothes every couple of days than pay to wash them at a laundromat.
One of the most impactful experiences we had as a group was participating in the church service situated directly along the border. We were there when the people were supposed to see their families across the border, but it had been cancelled by whichever group controlled the border. It was heartbreaking to know that families who already saw each other very rarely due to restrictions could not see each other during the small fraction of time allotted. However, we hope we brought some humor to the church because they asked us to sing, and our version of Lean on Me was not the best.
Additionally, along the border, we worked at Friendship Park, the binational garden which represents unity and connectedness. Coincidentally, a week or so before we got to the garden, the US had ripped up their side and neglected to even tell the gardener on the Mexican side that they were going to do that.
These are only a few of the experiences our group had, but I think it’s evident that each person we spoke to was memorable and provided us with unique perspectives. Unfortunately, we were planning on speaking to a group of border patrol agents, but they had to “cancel” at the last minute. Shocker. Many of us had hoped to get an opposite perspective on the border crisis or at least a contrasting idea, but I think deep down we knew that they wouldn’t have been as revealing as we wanted.
Before the Covid -19 outbreak, the Mexico Border Trip was getting ready to present our reflections from our experiences through a symposium that combined art, news, politics and our own interpretations. I spoke specifically about the art we saw and what I gained as an artist myself from the trip.
Before we even crossed the border into Mexico, we spent a few hours at Chicano Park in Logan Heights, San Diego. Logan Heights is also San Diego’s oldest Mexican-American neighborhood. The park features more than 80 paintings on a total of seven acres. I recently asked a couple of people if they had heard of it, and they all said no. It makes sense that few people had heard of it, as it resides under a highway and is obscured from passer bys. It was only declared a national monument in 2017, so it is fairly new as a monument, but the park has been around since the 70’s.
It has typically been a place for parties, festivals, art galleries and more, but historically has been a place where social and political movements were addressed, specifically pertaining to the Mexican-American population. This status “recognized the artistic, cultural and sociopolitical significance of the park and preserved the space for future generations.”
The importance of Chicano Park to San Diego is best summed up by the late Ramon "Chunky" Sanchez, much-loved activist, musician and creator of the heartfelt anthem, "Chicano Park Samba": "There's an energy there that's hard to describe—when you see your people struggling for something positive, it's very inspiring. The park was brought about by sacrifice and it demonstrates what a community can do when they stick together and make it happen."
Over the years, Chicano Park has seen its fair share of protestors. Many far-right groups have claimed that the park is anti-American and threaten to paint the murals white. In fact, these groups have succeeded a few times and have destroyed art that has a lot of historical and cultural significance. They literally white wash the park. The tension on both sides of the border is much higher than it is elsewhere, so it is instrumental that there is representation on both sides if we ever hope to solve the border crisis.
The park is seen as a source of strength and support for the Mexican-Americans living so near the border. The murals portray the struggles and triumphs of the people, and the park exemplifies resistance against the city of San Diego. It has been 50 years since the murals have been painted. And more are added every few years. The park has built both a legacy and an entire movement.
It references history, and culture and success in a way that demonstrates to the viewers what is important to know.
The park is a perfect example of beauty that has been created from something seemingly ugly. The park itself is colorful and tells a story. Many of the older murals feature Aztec gods, scenes demonstrating the struggles of farm labor workers and femininity in a god-like yet monstrous form. As an artist, I was very fascinated by the murals at Chicano Park, but I also started to question the importance of murals and wonder about the power they can have on both the viewer and the creator. Murals ultimately act as collective thought spaces. They can create dialogue around a subject or community issue through what they depict.
When I first started walking around the park, I actually felt pretty scared and overwhelmed. I mean these murals are huge pieces of art with eyes that seem to follow you and blood and sweat in almost every mural. I actually felt very disconnected because I realized how little I knew about Aztec culture and Mexican-American history, and I couldn’t relate to the stories of hardship, perseverance and success. I really couldn’t relate to it at all. But I think that was one of the powers of this park. It draws you in and makes you want to know more and attempt to understand the emotion behind the murals. I think that is really how murals bring people, cultures, and nations together.
Anybody that goes to the park will have an experience, whether it like mine or completely different, but no matter what, there is no denying the beauty of the murals at Chicano Park. I also wanted to mention that I don’t think anybody will ever be able to fully understand somebody else’s experience or story, but I think there’s real value in trying and being an attentive listener and showing that you care.
Thank you again, Poly, teachers, students and friends. This was an incredible experience and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity.