All photos by Sandé Lollis except where noted otherwise
Courtesy Centro Cultural de la Raza
THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES the crossroads between two important segments of historic preservation: adaptive reuse and cultural celebration.
The story of Centro Cultural de la Raza began in 1970 when community members and artists were using the then-abandoned Ford Building in Balboa Park as an artistic gathering place. Looking to make their residency in Balboa Park official, they met with City officials to discuss making the building an official cultural center. Instead, they were awarded a concrete water tank no longer in use along Park Boulevard, and it has been their home ever since.
Work began to transform this empty tank into a vibrant center that has served the community for more than 50 years. The centro is the city's oldest organization devoted to Latino, Chicano, Mexicano, and Indigenous art and culture.
In 1974, ten artists decorated the 18-foot-tall exterior walls with colorful murals representing numerous cultures that make up San Diego's regional history. The water tank made for an excellent canvas for acclaimed artists Felipe Adame, Mario Aguilar, Guillermo "Yermo" Aranda, David Avalos, Sálvador Barajas, Samuel Llamas, Víctor Ochóa, Antonia Perez, Antonio Pérez Pazos, and Arturo Roman.
The center offers classes, showcases exhibits of art and photography, and celebrates cultural diversity through music, dance, and art. Many influential artists got their start at the center, and others have had their work published in exhibition catalogues, poetry series, and children's books.
Woven into the social and cultural fabric of San Diego for more than half a century, the centro's many talented and determined people have had a profound impact on the community and generations of artists. For a remarkable history and a bright vision of the future for cultural heritage and historic preservation, SOHO is proud to present Amelia Enrique and the Centro Cultural de la Raza with the People In Preservation Adaptive Reuse - Cultural Preservation Award.
Left to right Roberto Hernández, treasurer; Ymoat Luna, vice president; Víctor Ochóa, Glo Andrade, Daniel Carbone, Silvia Enrique, Juan Caro, Brenda Cruz, Denise Cuenca, Amelia Enrique, president. Photo by Sandé Lollis
