NYC – East Village: Roberto Clemente Center – mural
Image by wallyg
The mural outside the Roberto Clemente Center was painted in 1996 by local artist Antonio Garcia, known simply as Chico. The mural represents the mixing of Latin American cultures, races, and identities up to the current Period of immigration to North America.
The mural is done on two levels. The lower levels depcicts symbols of the evolution of cultures. On the left (off camera) it represents Native Americans followed by the arrival of the Spanish. The mixing of those two races resulted in the evolution of the peasant, Jibarao (depicted with hat and machete). The Jibaro’s culture is represented by string musical instruments. Similarly, the African influence in Latin nationality is represented by the drums. These cultures and races mixed and resulted in the racially mixed "trigueno" nation. Following that is the representation of immigration to the U.S. in search of economic and other freedomds–Statue of Liberty.
The top lefvel of the mural depicts eight outsanding symbols of a racially integrated Lain American pride: men and women; "triguenos," black and white; Dominican, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Venezuelan, Cuban, Salvadorean–all representatives of the honor of being South and Central American, Mexican and Carribean.
From left to right are: Dominican Indian Leader Anacona; Mexican Constitutional Reformer Benito Juarez, Liberator of South America Simon Bolivar, Puerto Rican feminist Luisa Capetillo, and Puerto Rican liberation leader Ramon E. Betances, Cuban independence leader Jose Marti, Puerto Rican poet Julia de Burgos, Salvadorean leader of the rights of the poor Archbishop Romero. To the extreme right, on the other side of the door, is the namesake, baseball Hall of Famer, Roberto Clemente.
The Roberto Clemente Center was first established in 1982 as an outpatient mental health service: It was the first mental health program in New York State to propose that culture is an essential component of mental health treatment. Cultural sensitivity was operationalized by including an all bilingual and bicultural staff. The importance of culturally sensitive care is now well established in the mental health field. The Clemente Center broke ground in making this possible for other mental health groups. The Roberto Clemente Center was made possible by the advocacy efforts of the Minority Advisory Council of the New York State Office of Mental Health and especially by the energetic support received from community-based organizations and leaders. The Center was first funded by the New York State Office of Mental Health.
The Center was named after Roberto Clemente in order to honor the values and work of the late Pittsburgh Pirates baseball star. Clemente spoke out about the discrimination that African-American and Latino players suffered in baseball. Throughout his life, Roberto Clemente strove for the highest performance goals and expectations. His love for children led him to develop children’s sports programs. Clemente is also known for his humanitarian and relief efforts. Roberto Clemente died in a tragic plane crash on New Year’s Eve of 1972 while transporting medical relief for the victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua.
The neighorhood is filled with Chico’s renegade work which dates back to the early 80’s when he used to tag old redbird subway cars. He is often credited with transforming subway graffiti into a more accepted art form. His first mural — long gone — was a jab at then President Reagan: a tank driving toward the words "World War III." Then local businesses offered to pay him 0, then more, to paint walls near their stores creating an eclectic range of art.
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