In 1990 Chicano muralism in San Antonio had fallen onto hard times. The more than 50 murals completed at the Cassiano Homes were beginning to fade unable to survive the sun’s burning rays. City funding for murals in San Antonio’s Westside had also dried up. Cruz Ortiz, who had never painted a mural, was convinced by fellow artist Juan Ramos and musician Manny Castillo to help organize a new grassroots organization dedicated to muralism. Their efforts in 1994 revived muralism in San Antonio and, as a result, the Chicano public art movement is alive and thriving today. This account explains how Cruz Ortiz, a key player in that artistic revival, helped to bring public art back to the Westside.
Cruz Ortiz: A Reviver of Chicano Murals
Cruz Ortiz: A Reviver of Chicano Murals
Cruz Ortiz: A Reviver of Chicano Murals
In 1990 Chicano muralism in San Antonio had fallen onto hard times. The more than 50 murals completed at the Cassiano Homes were beginning to fade unable to survive the sun’s burning rays. City funding for murals in San Antonio’s Westside had also dried up. Cruz Ortiz, who had never painted a mural, was convinced by fellow artist Juan Ramos and musician Manny Castillo to help organize a new grassroots organization dedicated to muralism. Their efforts in 1994 revived muralism in San Antonio and, as a result, the Chicano public art movement is alive and thriving today. This account explains how Cruz Ortiz, a key player in that artistic revival, helped to bring public art back to the Westside.