Fundraiser for The Centro Cultural de la Raza featuring a Sneak Preview of "Cycles of Change"

SAN DIEGO - April 2, 2014 - PRLog -- On Friday, April 11, 2014 a fundraising event for the Centro Cultural de la Raza will be held that features a sneak preview of "Cycles of Change: Restoring Quetzalcoatl."  Some of the original artists from Chicano Park will also be there to exhibit their art as well as answer questions from the audience.  Additionally, DJ Memo Rex and Juan Caro of Mirror Pop will their energetic and unique deep house music for all to enjoy after the film screening. Proceeds from the event will be used to procure a booth at Chicano Park Day 2014. The Chicano Park steering committee is in favor of the idea as a symbolic committment of cooperation between these two historic organizations.

View the Cycles of Change Trailer here:
http://youtu.be/8RJpIkZfnUo



CinemaViva captured on film one of the most important times in California history, the Chicano Park Mural Restoration Project. The camera brings you the emotional and remarkable story of the restoration of the historical mural "Quetzalcoat", which was the first mural to go up on the freeway underpass cutting through Barrio Logan when racial tensions were high and peace and equality felt like just a dream.

The Centro’s mission is to create, preserve, promote and educate about Chicano, Mexicano, Latino and Indigenous art and culture.  San Diego’s Centro Cultural de la Raza was founded in 1970 as a Chicano Community Cultural Center and functions as an alternative space that encourages and facilitates artistic growth and cultural interchange in the San Diego/Tijuana region. The Centro provides classes and features a dynamic inter-discipinary schedule of events which includes exhibits, musical performances, installation art, readings, receptions, Azteca dance, Teatro Chican@, Ballet Folklorico, film screenings and other events.

The "Cycles of Change: Restoring Quetzalcoatl" documentary brings you the story of a bunch of young, angry artists who wanted to pack a political punch and have their art speak volumes for them and their community. Creative artists Mario Torero, Victor Ochoa, Guillermo Aranda, Salvador Torres,  Jose Cervantes, Thomas Castañeda, and Guillermo Rosette came together and shared their story of what life was like back then through the struggles when the first mural in Chicano Park hit the walls. The artists tell their stories and explain why the Quetzalcoat mural is still to this day so very important.

One of the things that will come across in the documentary is how important the murals were. How they allowed people to record their emotion in the form of art. The documentary brings together the original artists who talk about the struggles and the reason for their art. You will hear stories that will make you understand how hard life were back then and realize that even today there are communities out there that still struggle with equality.

Director Horacio Jones described the documentary this way“ Cycles of Change: Muralism in Chicano Park“, “ Depicts the resurgence of art and culture surrounding the Barrio Logan community. It delves into the original artists' motives and aspirations to transform the Park into a creative outlet for future generations, while maintain it as a center for free expression.”

CinemaViva located in central San Diego wanted to capture each moment of the restoration process, speaking to artists involved and learning more about the motivation behind the Quetzalcoat mural and the feelings the artists felt back then and if those feelings were still there.

To learn more about "Cycles of Change: Restoring Quetzalcoatl" please visit
http://CyclesOfChangeFilm.com/

To learn more about the "Centro Cultural de la Raza" please visit:

http://CentroCulturalDeLaRaza.com/

This documentary was produced by:

http://www.CinemaViva.com/