Presentation 1: Yreina Cervantez

The presentation that stood out to me most this past week was that of Yreina Cervantez, perhaps because we share a last name, but also because I found her mural-making work very compelling. Cervantez is a Chicana activist who is known for her murals and print-making. One of her most recognizable works is "La Ofrenda," which is situated right here in LA! Originally painted in 1989, this ofrenda is in honor of Dolores Huerta--co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America and a prominent figure in that movement. Since then, the mural has been vandalized a countless number of times, leading SPARC to move to protect the mural. Cervantez' work as a public artist parallels the work of muralists we've learned about in this class and it was really interesting to learn about her!