This summer I had the pleasure to spend an hour with Maria and Antonio about three days a week while I drove them from Salem to Woodburn so they could have the opportunity to paint a mural that tells their story.
It’s been the highlight of my summer.
Antonio (15) and Maria (16) are brother and sister. They live in Salem, Oregon, but are originally from a small village in Michoacan, Mexico known as Los Reyes (The Kings).
Interestingly I found out we have a lot in common. Los Reyes is about a half hour from where I come from and like me, they
immigrated to Oregon at a very young age. They live in northeast Salem where I grew up and both our parents are farmworkers. They also pick berries every summer as I did at their age and finally, they go to McKay High, the school I graduated from.
Like me at that age, they have dreams of going to college. Maria wants to be the first in her family to go to college and would
like to be an artist. Antonio, who won a writing contest in middle school, wants to be a writer.
Today on our drive to Woodburn we talked about their experience painting the mural. Maria said that initially she thought it would be boring and that she was just “tagging along with a group of volunteers.” Antonio chuckled and said, “I came because my sister made me.” But things changed quickly, after dragging themselves to come the first time with a group of volunteers, Maria and Antonio couldn’t wait to come again. “I really like coming here because I like you guys,” said Antonio. “What we are doing is empowering.”
“And what about working with Juanishi or sensai as you call him? What’s that been like?” This was my last question to them.
“Juanishi is a lot of fun. He has a lot of great stories. He’s like another young person, but he has the authority and respect from everyone,”—commented Maria.
“Juanishi is the only older person we have a relationship with. We have one living grandparent but he is back in Mexico and we never got the chance to get to know him,”—said Antonio.
Now we are just a couple of weeks away from finishing the painting of the mural. Who would have thought that the most valuable thing we were going to create was not just a mural, but true relationships. Thanks for the ride Maria and Antonio.
That’s the word on the street as the CAPACES Leadership Institute’s mural begins to take form.
On July 13th, the CLI kicked off the painting of its mural and celebrated its second birthday. The event drew fifty plus members from the community, many of whom were involved since the beginning of this project, nearly two years ago. Among those in attendance was Woodburn’ Mayor Kathy Figley. “This will be a tremendous asset to the Woodburn community”—Mayor Figley proudly pronounced when she spoke to the crowd.
“The story of the farmworker movement will be told in this mural. That’s my story. This will be something I will be able to share with my children and future grandchildren.”—Commented Alejandra Lily, a former farmworker and now Board member of the CLI. The event also capped off the CLI’s mural fundraising campaign. With your support we were able to meet our goal of raising $5,000 to begin painting the mural. Thank you!
Interested in seeing the progress we’ve made so far? Click here
Juanishi (left) and Jaime A. (Right) answer questions from the Woodburn Public Arts Mural Committee
“Is the mural accessible to the public?”
“Can you guarantee the mural will last a long time?”
“Is there a central theme to the mural?”
These were just a few of several questions the five Woodburn Public Art Mural committee members were inquiring from their very first applicant—The CAPACES Leadership Institute.
Last Wednesday, the Woodburn Public Art Mural Committee unanimously approved the CAPACES Leadership Institute’s application for a mural designed by muralist Juanishi Orosco. Representing the submitted application was lead mural organizer Dalila Ortiz, who was also joined by CLI Special Project coordinator Jaime Arredondo, CLI executive director Laura Isiordia for the CAPACES Leadership Institute, and forty-plus supporters in attendance.
Despite some concerns from a few committee and community members, the mural committee unanimously approved the CLI’s application citing the “thorough preparation” of the CLI staff and the lead muralist. The approval of the CLI’s mural application officially designates the CLI Mural as the first publicly approved outdoor mural for the city of Woodburn.
Juanishi, CLI Staff and volunteers celebrate mural victory
The passage of the mural contrasts past efforts from PCUN, the CLI’s sister organization, in their push to establish affordable farmworker housing units in the 90’s. “We were forced with a lot of resistance. I remember one city councilor asking us ‘Why don’t you just go home!’” recalled CLI Executive Director Laura Isiordia.
This time around however, the city applauded the efforts of the CLI and the farmworker movement led by PCUN, for championing a mural ordinance, “Where here because of you [CAPACES Leadership Institute] and your efforts to pass a mural ordinance. To leave here without granting you a right to paint would be an injustice,” commented one city council member who sits on the Public Mural Committee.
“The acceptance of our mural application is victory shared by the community. This victory signifies that we matter, that farmworker Latino community is an important member of this community. It also means that when we unite together in the “Si Se Puede” spirit, we demonstrate the political power that we possess,” remarked Laura Isiordia after the committee’s decision.
What does this mean for the lead muralist Juanishi Orosco? “I think the board’s approval has a very positive impact in the community in that it will open doors for other aspiring muralists.” said Juanishi Orosco.
Front side of proposed mural design. Mural painting will kick-off on Saturday, July 13th.
Although there is still some preliminary work, the CLI has set Saturday, July 13th as the official kick off date for the mural painting. July 13th also happens to be the Leadership Institute’s second birthday!
For those interested to volunteer in painting the mural, contact Dalila Ortiz at dalilao@capacesleadership.org or (503)902-0756 Ext 5.
Imagine a warm sunny morning in Woodburn, Oregon where farmworker youth, community leaders, and community elders are assembling together around muralist Juanishi Orosco, a renowned Chicano muralist. Equipped with paint brushes, buckets of paint, rows of ladders, and their imagination, community members with the direction of Juanishi begin taking the first strokes of paint on a wall to create a mural that captures a segment of Woodburn’s history: the history of the farmworker.
Concept design for Street view of Mural designed by Juanishi
Imagine the laughter, the intermingling of multiple generations, ethnic groups, and civic leaders as together they paint a mural that honors the indigenous community, the early Chinese and Latino farmworkers who worked in the fields, the farmworker movement led by PCUN, and recent events such as the 2012 election that reflects the power of the Latino vote.
Concept design for parking lot view by Juanishi
Now that’s a beautiful image, if not a powerful image, that captures the historical narrative of the farmworker community. It is essentially the image the CAPACES Leadership Institute (CLI) is assembling to paint this summer. And we’ve been determined to make it happen.
We led the campaign that changed the city ordinance last August to allow for publicly displayed murals.
We’ve identified the canvass, the exterior walls of the newly constructed CAPACES Leadership Institute.
We’ve chosen our painter, muralist Juanishi Orosco, who with over forty years of experience has painted murals throughout the west coast, including the iconic mural in PCUN’s Risberg Hall.
We’ve submitted our mural application and expect approval from the Woodburn Public Art Mural Committee on Tuesday, June 26th.
Now we need your help to make that image real.Our goal is to fundraise $5,000 by July 13th, the second birthday of CAPACES Leadership Institute’s incorporation and the official kick-off to paint the mural. The cost of the mural project is $16,000. We’ve already raised $11,000.
The mural, is more than a painting, it’s a landmark, an open history book that tells a story that we are trying to share to the community and future generations. Please consider making a contribution to help us tell this story. To donate click HERE!
Back in the fall of 2011, leaders of the CAPACES Leadership Institute met with Woodburn city council officials for approval to paint a mural on the exterior of their building. Reluctance from the city to pass an ordinance allowing for publicly displayed murals led to a campaign that has since been known as the CLI Mural Civic Engagement Campaign.
Fast-forward to 2013–After several testimonies, the passage of a mural ordinance, the creation of a Public Mural Art Committee, and a mural design submission, the day the CLI has been waiting for has arrived: A vote by the Woodburn Public Mural Art Committee to approve painting for the CLI’s mural design (set for Tuesday, June 26th).
On the heels of an historic vote by the city to allow for the CLI to paint a mural that will stand as a monumental landmark, we’ve interviewed mural organizer Dalila Ortiz for her perspective on the campaign she has helped lead:
Q: Tell us about the Civic Mural Civic Engagement Campaign and the Mural Project?
A: The mural campaign was an opportunity not just to paint, but to bring the community to paint a farmworker mural that represents the community. The goals of the campaign were:
1) Paint a mural that would reflect the contributions of the farmworker community,
2) Work with farmworker families to engage the Woodburn City Council to change its city ordinance,
3) Bring in a well-rounded muralist in Juanishi Orosco, who painted PCUN’s mural, to paint the CLI mural and mentor for young local artists,
4) Foster a community building activity that would bring together the Woodburn community and facilitate a dialogue about farmworker contributions.
Q: What phase is the CLI mural currently in?
A: We are awaiting a public hearing for Tuesday, June 26th. On that day, we hope to get the Woodburn Public Art Mural Committee, appointed by the city council, to approve our application and the mural design we have submitted.
Once passed, we hope to have our mural painting kick-off on July 13th, which coincides with the CLI’s second anniversary as an organization.
Q: The CLI faced many obstacles in passing a mural ordinance, what was the turning point?
A: After the city dismissed our desire to paint a mural, we went back to the community. I had many discussions with families, where we received a lot of input and feedback. The community began to take ownership of the mural and the idea that it could serve as a narrative of the contributions of farmworkers.
Once the community took ownership, the city council began hearing swarms of testimony in support of a mural ordinance. I think the city council soon realized that they no longer held the views of the community and felt compelled to work with us in passing an ordinance.
Dalila (left) and Juanishi (right). Dalila has led the mural civic engagement campaign, that hopes aims to get city approval to paint a mural at the CLI. Juanishi, aims to lead the mural painting.
Q: Wow! Changing gears now, tell us about the design of the mural?
A: The design of the mural encompasses the elements of the surrounding community from the perspective of the farmworker. For example, the design incorporates the image of farmworkers picking berries and a woman holding tulips, a reflection of the existing industry in the mid-Willamette Valley. The mural also includes images from our past such as Japanese workers in the mid-Willamette valley pre-world war II and of the more recent image of Latinos voting in the 2012 election.
The mural also carries heavy symbols of education, emphasizing how important education is for the community, and tying the role of the Institute.
Q: Who will be involved in painting?
A: Juanishi Orosco will be the lead muralist, and will be accompanied by hand-picked painters to help lead the mural painting. Juanishi, as many may or may not know, helped paint the iconic PCUN mural displayed in their Riseberg hall. We will also have the community at-large to help paint the mural. We’ll have farmworker families, youth, and other leaders coming in to help paint.
PCUN Mural by Juanishi Orosco
Q: How can people help?
A: People can help by contributing their time to come down to the leadership institute and help paint. Generally we’ll be painting between 10:00am and 7:00pm. Another way for folks to help is by making a donation, to help us fund the painting. We’ll come out with more information on both soon.
Q: What does the mural mean for the movement?
A: The mural is a landmark, it portray the history of Woodburn through the eyes of the farmworker. It will raise-consciousness for people driving by of a history not often told.
Q: Finally, What does the mural mean for the community, and the families who worked with you to change the mural ordinance?
A: It feels like we, Latinos and farmworkers, are finally being acknowledged. That we are not a “hidden” community and it brings pride to know that our contributions to the community are being recognized. This project means so much more than a painting on a wall.
CAPACES Leadership Institute
