OXNARD — Oxnard Housing Authority Resident Services Department from La Colonia area is proud to announce the completion of the third and fourth mural installments of the Youth Summer Mural Program. This year’s murals are named “Latinx Empowerment” and “De Colores”. The murals are located within the back parking lot of the Oxnard Housing Authority Resident Services Offices, located at 1500 Camino Del Sol, Oxnard.
The Oxnard Housing Authority Resident Services Youth Summer Mural Program was successfully launched in the summer of 2017. Murals inspired by the community for the community.
The “Latinx Empowerment” mural honors ancestral knowledge and depicts Latinx leaders in medicine, space, botany, and literature. The “De Colores” mural focuses on inclusion and diversity within Latinx culture and the Latinx community. The murals were developed and created by youth in the program along with lead Oxnard artist, Ana M. Carrillo. The artist team who mentored, assisted, and overall supported the project were Maria Echevarria, Monica Torres, Jose Galvan, Zuleima Jimenez, Elisa Torres, Marcos Ruelas and Flavio Carranza.
The youth in the six-week program engaged in art workshops which included art skills development, mural history and development, cultural identity and diversity discussions, guest speakers and field-trips. Guest speakers included authors Margo Porras and Sandra Porras, the Oxnard Police Department Special Enforcement Unit, and Ventura County Behavioral Health. Field-trips included a Cal Lutheran University onsite tour and student panel presentation, an artist-led community garden visit, a docent presentation plus viewing of the Siqueiros mural at the America Tropical Interpretive Center located in Olvera Street, Los Angeles and a celebratory day trip at Lake Casitas, Ojai.
Funding for the mural program and guest speaker series was made possible thanks to the support of the Oxnard Police Department, Oxnard Housing Authority and Resident Services. Support was also provided by Our Town Our Children. A Social Awareness Art Project., and DJC Services & Installation.
For more information about the youth art program or Oxnard Housing Authority Resident Services programs please contact, Rose Banuelos, Resident Services Coordinator at (805) 385-7574 or rose.banuelos@oxnard.org