SAN JOSE — The city’s San Jose’s Chicano and Hispanic community received a big gift Saturday with the official unveiling of a mural honoring seven of the city’s “Leyendas de San José” — legends of San Jose — from the first Mexican DJ, to the founders of Lowrider Magazine.
The mural, created by three artists who formed the Timeless Art Collective, is a salute to the Mexican and Spanish roots of the Roosevelt Park neighborhood, as well as a history lesson for the whole city.
“We wanted to bring people together and uplift the low-rider community,” says Steven Martinez, who along with Eduardo Hererra and Ariana Hansen spent about a year researching the history, gathering suggestions from the neighborhood, acquiring funding and lastly, painting the mural that covers the side of one building on Santa Clara Avenue and 19th Street. “It’s been very impactful. We are muralists trying to create art, but we also created some history.”
Saturday’s ceremony included speeches from the families of those honored on the mural, and Aztec dancers who blessed the mural and the crowd in attendance.
“It’s such an honor,” Elaine Valenzuela Plata, of Modesto, said, gazing up at the rendering of her grandfather, Jesus Valenzuela, who broke barriers to produce the first Spanish-language program and provide a spark of pride among his community.
San Jose City Councilman Raul Peralez, who represents District 3 that includes the East San Jose neighborhood, said the Chicano culture runs deep, remembering his own days cruising Santa Clara Avenue.
The Chicano and Hispanic culture is a huge part of San Jose’s history, “but it’s never been celebrated like this,” Peralez said.
The mural features seven San Jose residents who are part of that history. They are:
Jesus Valenzuela, who began his radio broadcasting career in 1937 in Santa Barbara, before joining San Jose’s KSJO in 1948. Nicknamed El Amo del Microfono — the master of the microphone — his Hora Artistica radio program provided the soundtrack for generations and helped boost Mexican artists.
Ricardo Santa Fe was a mariachi singer, musician and composer who got his start at the El Campanil Theater in Antioch, performing to largely Hispanic audiences. His daughter, Angie Ayala, of Los Angeles, said her dad tried to get into movies, but had to pretend to be Italian.
Luis Valdez, Chicano playwright, screenwriter, actor and director, is best known for “La Bamba” and “Zoot Suit.” He’s considered the father of Chicano film and theater. While attending San Jose State University, his first play, “The Shrunken Head of Pancho Villa,” was performed, and Valdez went on to join the United Farm Workers, where he staged improvisational theater with the help of union actors. The theater led to the formation of El Teatro Campesino, which he co-founded with his brother, Daniel, who also is on the mural.
Jose “All Nighter” Martinez, founder of Low Conspiracy Car Club, celebrated and enhanced the low rider culture in San Jose, helping to run and organize car shows. He also was a contributor to Lowrider Magazine, the first magazine ever published for the lowrider community.
Sonny Madrid, founder of Lowrider Magazine, combined his love of tricked-out cars and community activism in a magazine that featured the lowrider, art, fashion and Chicano rights. He also helped to make San Jose Northern California’s cruising capitol.
Art Rodrigues authored “East Side Dreams” and other books that explored his own past and history. Rodrigues struggled with an undiagnosed learning disorder, which led him to several run-ins with the law. After starting his own business, Rodrigues eventually taught himself to read and write, producing four books that were must-reads for thousands of young students who saw something of themselves in his stories.
Daniel Valdez is an actor, musician, composer, and activist best known for roles in “La Bamba,” “The China Syndrome” and “Zoot Suit.” His brother is Luis Valdez, also is featured on the mural.
There were some comments Saturday bemoaning the lack of women represented on the mural, but Dee Barragan, president of the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association said a mural honoring female Chicanas is being discussed for inside the park.
Source: www.mercurynews.com