Artist Fights to Save Important Mural in Santa Ana

Artist Alicia Rojas noticed something was wrong. A famous mural called "Chicano Gothic" was going to be destroyed when the city built a new pool. The mural was painted by Emigdio Vasquez in 1987 and shows Mexican-American workers. Rojas decided to fight to save it.

Rojas found out that city workers didn't have a plan for the mural. She started a campaign with other artists and neighbors to save it. They went to meetings and sent emails to city leaders. After lots of work, the city agreed to keep the mural where it was.

This wasn't the first time Santa Ana's art was in danger. The city has many beautiful murals that tell stories about the community. In the past, other important murals were destroyed during building projects. Artists and community members worried this would keep happening.

Rojas has been working to protect art for many years. She moved to Santa Ana from Colombia when she was young. The murals in her new city made her feel at home because they showed people like her family. She co-founded a group called the Santa Ana Community Artist Coalition to help create and protect murals.

On May 5, the Santa Ana City Council voted to approve new rules to protect public art. Rojas helped write these rules as a consultant. The policy will help save existing murals and guide how new public art is made. It also makes sure community members can help make decisions about art.

Councilmember Jessie Lopez supported the new policy. She said art is about more than being creative - it's about saving the community's history and stories. The policy will help make sure artists get the respect and support they deserve.

Rojas believes murals are special because everyone can see them. Unlike art in museums, murals are free and outside where all families can enjoy them. She often organizes community painting days where kids and adults work together to create or fix murals.

One story shows why this work matters to Rojas. A little girl who painted with her came back 15 years later wearing a Yale University sweatshirt. The girl said she wrote her college application essay about painting that wall. For Rojas, this shows how powerful community art can be.

There is still more work to do. The new policy only covers art on city property, but Rojas wants to protect art on private buildings too. She also wants the city to create a fund to pay for taking care of murals. Her dream is to make Santa Ana like an outdoor museum where art is everywhere.

Rojas continues to organize community painting events. She believes public art belongs to everyone and wants to keep fighting to protect it. Through her work, more murals will be saved for future generations to enjoy.