For Immediate Release:
December 1, 2010
Contact: Jessica Tade
(805) 882-1468
Judy Baca Mural Restored in the Guadalupe Community Thanks in Part to
an $8,000 Grant from the Santa Barbara Foundation
In partnership with the City of Guadalupe and the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission, the
Santa Barbara Foundation has given an $8,000 grant to have a four panel mural (created by the
artist Judy Baca) restored and placed on public view in the city of Guadalupe.
Developed around 1990, with funding support from the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission,
the Guadalupe Murals Project was intended to remind citizens of the rich history of the city of
Guadalupe. The mural were originally installed at City Hall, but was removed to prevent
increasing exposure to the elements. Now the mural will once again be on public display at City
Hall.
“The restoration and rededication of this mural highlights the importance of community
involvement, local tradition, and artistic practice in the city of Guadalupe,” stated Ron Gallo,
president & CEO of the Santa Barbara Foundation. “This is an example of collaboration at its
finest, while preserving the history of this special place and returning an artistic treasure to
public view.”
To produce the mural, Judy Baca spent much time in the city of Guadalupe. As only Judy Baca
can do, she turned the mural project into a community affair, talking to people in the community,
hiring teenagers to collect historical information, and holding town meetings to get diverse
feedback and opinions.
The product of this community effort is a four panel mural (acrylic on plywood, each panel 8 x 7
feet): “The Founders of Guadalupe” reveals the rich local history of the city; “The Ethnic
Contributions” depicts the history of racial conflict in the city of Guadalupe as well as its diverse
ethnicity; “The Farmworkers of Guadalupe” features the people who came to live and work in
Guadalupe; and “The Future of Guadalupe” reminds of the present while providing hope for a
better future for the residents of Guadalupe.
The city of Guadalupe sits on land known for its agriculture, oil production and the Nipomo
Dunes. This region has also been the backdrop for many films, including Cecil B. Demille’s Ten
Commandments filmed in 1923. With the re-installation of the four mural panels by Judy Baca,
the city will have yet another historical treasure to share.
A reception and rededication of the mural will be held December 11, 2010 from 2:00 to 3:30
p.m. at City Hall (918 Obispo Street, Guadalupe, CA). The reception is free and open to the
public.
Funding support for the Guadalupe Murals Project was also provided by the City of Guadalupe,
the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission, and the Social and Public Art Resource Center
(SPARC).
Photo caption: This mural by Judy Baca consists of four panels (from left to right): “The
Founders of Guadalupe;” “The Ethnic Contributions;” “The Farmworkers of Guadalupe;” and
“The Future of Guadalupe.” Photo courtesy of the Social and Public Art Resource Center
(SPARC).
About the Artist
Judy Baca is a native Angelino, a visual artist, arts activist, community leader and educator.
Baca is best known for her large-scale public organizing murals. Her art involves extensive
community dialogues and participation. Baca founded the first City of Los Angeles mural
program in 1974. In 1976 she founded the Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) in
Venice, California. She serves as a full Professor in the UCLA Chicano/a Studies Department
and World Arts and Cultures Department. She is currently working on the Cesar Chavez
Memorial at San Jose State University and the Robert F. Kennedy monument at the Old
Ambassador Hotel site.
About the Santa Barbara Foundation
The Santa Barbara Foundation is a high impact community foundation with over 80 years of
success in strategically enhancing our communities by providing funding to area nonprofit
agencies and college bound students. Through partnership and personalized philanthropic
services, the Foundation supports the day-to-day charitable passions of hundreds of fund holders
and assists others in creating philanthropic legacies.
With over $250 million in assets under management, the Santa Barbara Foundation is top
ranked for investment performance and financial stewardship. A leader in providing rigorous
evaluation in distributing funds, the Foundation awarded over $20 million in grants and $2
million in student loans in the 2009 fiscal year.
Contact:
Jessica Tade
Communications and Marketing Manager
(805) 882-1468
jtade@sbfoundation.org
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