Judith F Baca

Judith F. Baca by Anna Indych-Lopez chronicles the major works of Baca from the beginning of her career. As a public works artist, Baca is widely known for The Great Wall. Baca incorporates many local issues into her work and emphasis the power of a community to invoke change.

The incorporation of historical issues has always been prevalent in Baca’s artwork; La Memoria de Nuestra Tierra: California was commissioned by USC in 1996. This mural was intended to celebrate Cesar Chavez , but it was heavily contested by the president of the university. The mural incorporates many historical elements about the oppression of people of color in Los Angeles. The regents thought the issues addressed in the mural were too negative for their anglo viewers. The mural openly defies the historical presentation of local histories by demanding that events be presented accurately. This mural challenges the directors; this is evident by Baca’s response to the critiques. For example, when asked why the people are so angry in the mural she responds, “I did not make the history. I just paint it (Indych-López, 81).

I like how Baca incorporates many elements into her murals because there is always something new to find. The mural has multiple aspects that can be interpreted in several ways, allowing the viewer to crate their own experience wit the mural. The fluidity of this mural allows for a community to be adequately represented because it provides many events for people to identify with.