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About the Mural
The mural pictured above is a prominent feature on our campus. The concept developed from idea to reality during the 1997-98 school year.
During the summer of 1996, the artist, Rita Alvarez, was commissioned by organizations at the University of California at Davis
to paint a mural at a rancho in Guanajuato, Mexico.
She spent three months there and painted two murals. This experience
probably led Rita to explore the possibility of painting a mural in
Davis in the tradition of the great Mexican muralists, Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and José Clemente Orozco.
Rita received a grant from the city of Davis to paint a mural
somewhere in the city; the location was up to her. Since Rita had a
child attending César Chávez Elementary, she chose the school.
Rita solicited students, staff and parents for ideas for the mural, asking each what they thought would best represent our program and philosophy.
Subsequently, Rita presented a sketch and a plan to the César Chávez community which was enthusiastically approved.
A teacher at DQ University at the time, Rita involved students from that institution in the creation of the mural. Her vision additionally included having all César Chávez students and staff participate in the painting process. In mural painting, the sketch is divided into a grid, and the grid is enlarged to fit the mural surface. Therefore, there were opportunities for everyone to become involved, regardless of their art experience.
The mural was painted in May of 1998 and officially unveiled at the school's annual Fiesta on Saturday, June 6. The DQ Aztec dancers also performed at the ceremony.
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