The Southern California arts community lost a legend last year when former Santa Ana College professor Shifra Goldman passed away. The historian championed Chicano murals long before others, and served as a ceaseless promoter of the OC Chicano arts scene as best exemplified by Emigdio Vasquez and Sergio O'Cadiz, the two titans on whom I hosted a panel discussion in February at the Fullerton Public Library. Goldman donated most of her collection to the Center for the Study of Political Graphics (CSPG), and they were just the recipients of another of her treasures–a previously lost sketch by O'Cadiz of his legendary History and Evolution of the Chicano in the United States mural completed in
1974 and currently hanging at the Neally Library at Santa Ana College.
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The 7' x 11 '11 colored-pencil sketch was discovered by Goldman's heirs while combing through her estate; they graciously donated it to CSPG. At first, according to CSPG Executive Director Carol A. Wells, they could not identify it because of a lack of a signature until Wille Herron, one-fourth of the legendary arts collective ASCO, made the positive identification. Once that happened, Wells emailed myself and Pilar O'Cadiz, Sergio's daughter and the keeper of his flame.
There are plans to showcase the find in Orange County–details to come…in the meanwhile, let's take a moment to marvel at the history we've yet to unearth.
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Just ran across this article. 49 years ago I was one of those students lucky enough to have had the opportunity to work on this mural under the direction of Sergio and Emigdio. My buddy Alonzo Whitney and I had taken Shifra Goldmans class on Art and Architecture in Mexico and both of us worked on that mural. Next year, 2024, will be the 50th anniversary. Alonzo, also a fantastic artist, took his son to see the mural last week. Our names are prominently signed on the bottom right hand corner of that last panel.
Arthur, whats your IG brother? Would like to hear more on this mural. TY!