Viva La Comunicación

“If we take a deep look at Chicano art we’ll see that there was support of anti-colonial projects that existed during the late 60s early 70s that existed on continents other than the Americas. Chicanos and Chicanas were very much in tune with what was happening beyond just their neighborhoods and beyond their ethnic group. Knowing that history and highlighting that history might remind us that we have this radical tradition and that we owe it to the people that came before us to not solely focus on our immediate experience, but to think more globally.”

- Katynka Martinez, Chicano Studies Professor at San Francisco State University, Videoconference interview, 2021.​​​​​​​

“Even though in 1974 there was only a handful of murals. No one even knew what a mural was back at that time. Now there's close to 700 murals just in the MIssion alone. It has grown from a handful in the early 70s to almost 700. It's a very big influence in the Bay Area mural movement because this spread from the Mission outward to other areas of San Francisco, to cities all the way around the Bay and in other countries as well.”

- Susan Cervantes, founder and director of Precita Eyes Muralists. Telephone interview, 2021.

“It has been very important for me to do this work because other people, who are not familiar with the Mexican-American culture, can see familiarity and can recognize some things in it that are similar to their lives. If they see that familiarity, there is less of a chance of misunderstanding and less of a chance of discrimination and racism.” 

— Carmen Lomas Garza, Chicana artist, "The Chicano Collection" 2003.

Contemporary Chicano artists exemplify a similar goal to the Chicano movement which is to change perceptions and define Chicano identity, yet all people can resonate with the messages and certain ideals of Mexican-American culture.

Early Chicano artwork was very much in line with the plan of Aztlan's idea of artwork which was to convey a visual representation of the goals of the movement and connect to the community. Over time artists became more critical of the lack of inclusivity of these male-oriented Chicano expectations. Chicanx art today is more than aggressive and politically active imagery. ​​​​​​​

"Art really, sometimes, is like the only way for us to like scream and communicate these big ideas that we have. When I has in high school, other than Frida Kahlo, I didn't really have other undocumented queer artwork. What I want in the future is for other generations not to have to worry about those things. To know that teachers, professors are using my artwork to tell younger folx, hey you're not alone. That to me is like, okay I'm doing my job."
- Julio Salgado, Chicanx artist, "How Julio Salgado Utilizes Art to Express Life As a Queer, Undocumented Man", 2019. ​​​​​​

Present-day Chicano art has diversified to include more mediums and different social issues. However, the basic Chicano spirit is still there and continues to inspire new generations of social activists.

"[Murals] can lead us in a direction for talking about how we can get along better between racial groups. How we can put in its proper place white supremacy and recognize that this is not really who America is. All those things. It can have judgments in a sense but the judgments aren't necissarily condemning, they're giving you a better idea."

- Judy Baca, Chicana mural artist, Videoconference interview, 2021.

At its heart, Chicano mural and poster art is "art for the people" that reflects the changing needs of the community. It is empowering, accessible, and beautiful.