SJSU News Archive
Date: 08/29/2008
Legendary Labor Leader Dolores Huerta and Chávez Family to Attend Celebration
Contact:
Pat Lopes Harris, SJSU Media Relations, 408-656-6999
SAN JOSE, Calif., -- San José State University is pleased to announce the dedication of The César E. Chávez Monument: Arch of Dignity, Equality and Justice designed by Judith F. Baca. The event will begin at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, September 4, at the sculpture, which is on campus near the Music Building along El Paseo de César Chávez (formerly South Seventh Street).
The event is free and open to the public. Given many major news organizations will be on deadline when the proceedings begin, dignitaries including Spanish speakers will be available for interviews at 2 p.m. To arrange interviews and for permission to park TV trucks on campus, please call SJSU Media Relations Director Pat Lopes Harris at 408-656-6999.
Unveiling of a Landmark
The dedication marks the culmination of a communitywide effort to honor Chávez. The world renowned human rights activist lived east of SJSU in San José, the closest major city to the fields where Chávez rose to fame as a farm worker and union organizer. SJSU takes great pride in its long history of educating many first-generation college graduates including the descendants of those who worked with Chávez.
The Associated Students of SJSU, the County of Santa Clara, Mancias Steel, the San Jose Redevelopment Agency, SJSU and many community members collaborated to raise funds for the development of the $404,000 project. The visually stunning 22-foot arch will join two other campus landmarks honoring human rights activists. SJSU is home to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library and a sculpture commemorating 1968 Olympians and SJSU alumni John Carlos and Tommie Smith.
Event Schedule, Thursday, September 4
2 p.m., V.I.P. Reception (closed to the public)
2:30 p.m., Native American Four Directions Blessing (more information below)
3:15 p.m., Dedication Ceremony (speakers listed below)
4 p.m., Memorial Unveiling
4:15 p.m., Reception (open to the public)
Speakers
Dolores Huerta, United Farm Workers Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus
Paul Chávez, César E. Chávez Foundation President and César E. Chávez's son
Gabriel A. Reyes and Victor R. Garza, Community Committee Representatives
Judith F. Baca, Artist
Jon Whitmore, SJSU President
Chuck Reed, San José Mayor
Rigo Chacon, Master of Ceremonies
Chávez Family Members Expected to Attend
Paul Chávez, César E. Chávez's son
Rita Chávez, César E. Chávez's sister
Richard Chávez, César E. Chávez's brother, designed U.F.W.'s eagle emblem
Visuals
The monument is a 22-foot tall arch topped with a glass eagle, the U.F.W.'s emblem. Decorative tile murals depict people, concepts, symbols and historical events central to Chávez's life and the movement he led. A circular mosaic path surrounding the arch represents the many pilgrimages taken by thousands of people during U.F.W. marches. In the evening, lights will illuminate the arch.
The dedication ceremony will be preceded by a Native American Four Directions Blessing by Calpulli Tonalehqueh, an Aztec dance group that will perform in traditional costumes.
View a rendering of the monument under "Current Public Art Projects."
View images of Aztec dance group Calpulli Tonalehqueh.
About the Artist
Muralist Judith F. Baca has been creating public art since 1970. Powerful in size and subject matter, Baca's works bring art to where people live and work so they can see themselves reflected in public spaces. Baca is also a professor of Chicano Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles.
San José State -- Silicon Valley's largest institution of higher learning with 32,000 students and 5,700 employees -- is part of the California State University system. SJSU's 154-acre downtown campus anchors the nation's 10th largest city.