Voices of the Future: Powerful Women At the Forefront in Arte and Politics

Casa 0101 and Margaret Garcia Unveil A National Treasure Honoring Gloria Molina

Michael Sedano

When La Bloga-Tuesday visited the work-in-progress mural (link) dedicated to shero Gloria Molina, the beauty and power of the work by Margaret Garcia, aided by Arturo Carrillo, shouted out loud that here is a gem of muralism, and a fitting memorial to a trailblazing Chicana. The muralist told me not to miss the unveiling at the end of August.

Margaret Garcia

"Unveiling" is quite an understatement. An amazing political rally broke out Saturday, August 29. The afternoon event honored Gloria Molina in the manner befitting a legendary leader. Representatives from state government, the Los Angeles City Council, and Mayor Karen Bass spoke at length about Molina's career and importance as the woman who shattered the glass ceiling of L.A. politics. 

Noted art collector Angel Guerrero chats with artist Pinchi Michi
while Margaret Garcia stands for a television interview in advance of the unveiling.

A highly engaged audience included artists, art collectors, mariachi, Molina's familia, and that star-studded political lineup. 

Josefina López

Josefina López, founder and director of Casa 0101 Theatre, welcomes the throng and invites all to that evening's premiere performance of López' play, "A Woman Named Gloria." (link)  The play runs through October 6.

Casa 0101's central auditorium recently was named in honor of Molina, who was an artist and avid supporter of Casa 0101 in particular. It's a comfortable house, in part owing to Molina's financial support (that brought in padded chairs). Margaret Garcia's remarks emphasized Gloria Molina's artistry, "Gloria had the soul of an artist," Garcia says, choking back tears for her friend and painting student.

Gloria Molina's career as the first Chicana to serve in the California state Assembly, the first Chicana on the L.A.City Council and the first Chicana on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. In fact, when Molina broke the boy's club barrier of the County Supervisors, L.A. County had to construct a woman's bathroom on the Supervisors' floor!

First implies more. And today, there not only are more raza women in political power, the speakers at the unveiling pronounced their debt to Molina's career. The unveiling was a revelation not only of a masterwork of arte, the speeches unveiled the future of United States and California politics: women, Chicanas, achieving higher office. 

Boyle Heights' Councilman, Kevin De Leon, was the sole featured male speaker. Preceding De Leon were powerfully eloquent women. The program introduced female aides to regional politicians who spoke with impressive extemporaneous fluidity. One woman, a Pitzer College graudate, remarked how she was raised just up the street from the mural.

Monica Rodriguez captivates her audience.
Molina's daughter, Valentina, Garcia, and López must sit through the speeches
then receive gorgeous certificates. It is a difficult seat to fill for the artists
who are anxious to attend to the day's main course, the mural.

The most powerful speaker that day was Monica Rodriguez. The City Councilperson from the San Fernando Valley told listeners that, although she was from a distant geography from Boyle Heights, Gloria Molina made it possible for Rodriguez to hold the position.

Gente, the future of L.A. politics was heard in Rodriguez' articulate voice. She sounds like a national leader and, you read it first in La Bloga, Rodriguez will one day sit in the Governor's chair in Sacramento, then in Washington D.C. at the highest levels; a cabinet official at minimum. That woman has presidential timber.

Kevin De Leon

Pobrecito Kevin De Leon. The local Councilman attempted to raise the roof with a rally-like introduction, then poured forth a singularly impressive, high-energy, stump speech. 

In other environments, De Leon would have stood out as a dynamic leader with a future. He speaks clearly, articulates effectively, provides great vocal variety and effective gestures. But Kevin was outshined by the women who spoke before and after him. Las mujeres presented with the same qualities but more polished, more powerful, more compelling. And Kevin is polished, he shines like patent leather.

De Leon probably would like to be Mayor, but comparing his ethos to the powerful images communicated by Rodriguez and the actual mayor, Karen Bass, De Leon must take second-tier status.

Los Angeles' first woman Mayor, Karen Bass

Maxine Waters, California's most dynamic congressional representative, would appear after the unveiling. I had departed by then to attend a play in Hollywood. 

The highlight, however, remains the Mayor. No one can steal her thunder, and Karen Bass shows it in her quiet confident presentation.

The speeches, impressive as they are, tested the artists' and audience's patience. Rhett Beavers, Garcia's husband, remarked he'd need a truck or station wagon to haul away the beautiful calligraphy as speaker after speaker presented increasingly large frames to Casa 0101, the Molina family, and muralist Margaret Garcia.

Finally, the moment everyone waited for arrives.

Uno. Dos...

Tres! and the curtain drops and beauty arises. The finished mural is stupendous. Los Angeles has long been the mural capital of the nation, and the Casa 0101/Margaret Garcia Gloria Molina tribute mural contributes a breath-taking addition to the city's catalog of fine art murals.

 

A feast for the eyes first look unveiling is not enough. Year after year, people will return, bringing familia and friends, to view the mural, and share their warm memories of the distinctive unveiling, or share their first visit to the theatre and mural. And, of course, to remember Gloria Molina. Presente!

Casa 0101 sits in the heart of the dynamic community of Boyle Heights, at 2102 E. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90033. Telephone (323) 263-7684, email info@casa0101.org.

Click here to reserve tickets for the play, "A Woman Named Gloria." 

When you attend the theatre or visit the mural, m ake a day of it and visit fine art galleries like parrasch heijnen (link), currently showing a retrospective of artist Linda Vallejo, and dine at Casa Fina (link), the medium-price high-end restaurant nearby, or another of Boyle Heights' numerous Mexican restaurants.