When Oliver Cortez Velasquez learned that Anaheim was creating a new mural in his neighborhood for Chicano Heritage Month, he said he knew he wanted to be a part of its creation. He reached out to the artist working on it and soon found himself painting the mural.
“This is something for the next generation,” Cortez Velasquez, 23, said as the mural neared completion at Little People’s Park.
The new, colorful 300-foot-long mural livens the park’s back wall in Downtown Anaheim. Across the street is the historic “Memories of the Past, Images of the Present” by the well-known muralist Emigdio Vasquez.
The city of Anaheim hired Santa Ana-based Latino artist Damin “zaoone” Lujan to paint the Little People’s Park mural. Lujan started work on it in late August and finished on Sept. 6, getting help from some Anaheim neighbors, including Cortez Velasquez.
The mural features colors, patterns and images inspired by different parts of Mexico, with big lettering that says “Little People’s Park.”
Lujan, who’s done other murals in Anaheim, said while he was working on the mural, a young girl with her grandparents stopped to take a photo in front of it. They were sending the photo to the girl’s parents in Mexico with the message, “Look, your culture is here also.”
“That’s what it’s all about,” Lujan said. “It’s for the people.”
The mural was done completely with Montana 94 spray paint from Spain. Rich Romeros, 35, lives nearby and also helped Lujan paint the mural, taking in tips and practicing lettering.
“To be part of it was wonderful,” Romeros said. “My daughter plays here. Every time we pass by, she’s like ‘Daddy’s paintings.’”
Also read: Meet the artist who painted a mural at all 23 Anaheim Elementary School District campuses
City officials hope to soon restore the “Memories of the Past, Images of the Present” mural across the street, which was painted by Vasquez in 1978.
Cortez Velasquez said…
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