The Califia Mural on the Martinez Hall mural wall, was completed over the summer of 2015 created by student muralists Laila Guadalupe Espinoza Faik, Jacqueline Krase, Steven James Mayorga, Martina Miguens Casado, Ángel Jesús Perez working with CCA Faculty Eduardo Pineda. The team of six students combined the Virgin of Guadalupe with the legendary goddess Califia – source for the name “California” – to create a goddess of creativity, justice, and nature.
In spring of 2015 Eduardo Pineda's ENGAGE: Mural Arts class, in partnership with The Mexican Museum (TMM) and The Unity Council, created murals for the historic Masonic Temple on San Pablo Ave and Ignacio de la Fuente Ave in the Fruitvale district of Oakland, California. To create the murals, students examined objects representing 4000 years of art history and culture with TMM’s director and educators, and used the historical styles and themes to highlight aspirations and concerns of the Fruitvale community as shared by The Unity Council staff. The resulting seven mural panels express themes of community resilience, cultural diversity, and affirmation of traditional culture and youthful energy. The Museum and The Unity Council jointly approved the final designs. By adorning the Masonic Temple, The Unity Council activated this landmark, envisioning a cultural center for the neighborhood; TMM outreached to the East Bay in anticipation of their new building in downtown San Francisco, and CCA placed st…