SPARC Celebrates 35 Years of Social Movements

There they were. SPARC's Judith Baca and Debra Padilla walking up Broadway during the 2006 Walk-Out, joining the protest to proposed immigration laws. It was another movement that Baca was in the middle of, a list that includes leading mural production, advancing the art of murals, and joining the discussion on the mural motorium. Much of it has been covered here at KCET and elsewhere. It's a lengthy list for Baca, who co-founded the Social Public Art And Resource Center 35th years ago. The anniversary will be marked with a celebration party this Saturday, October 20, from 7 p.m. to 11 p. m.

SPARC will use the night to present the Siqueiros Award to muralist Francisco Letelier, the Judy Baca Social Justice Award to community leader Maria Elena Durazo, and the SPARC Founders' Award to SPARC supporter Antonia Hernandez and the California Community Foundation. Also, SPARC will rename their gallery to "The Durón Gallery," in honor of Mary and Armando Durón.

The night will include a retrospective exhibition, a chance to do some mural work with the Mobile Mural Lab, and live music by jazz & blues artists Barbara Morrison, who was recently featured in The Los Angeles Times.

For more information on the celebration, go to SPARC's website See the links below for our coverage of Judith Baca and SPARC.