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SELF-HELP GRAPHICS & ART BUILDING |
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The future is uncertain for the home of Self Help Graphics & Art (SHG&A), a thriving cultural center for Chicana/o art in the heart of unincorporated East Los Angeles. Founded by local artists and community activist Sister Karen Boccalero, a Franciscan nun committed to social change, SHG&A has become the leading visual arts cultural center in East Los Angeles, garnering national and international recognition. In 1979, SHG&A moved into a 1927 commercial building at 3802 East Cesar Chavez Avenue. The organization has fostered local artistic talent there for more than thirty years. Established during the cultural rebirth of the Chicana/o movement of the 1960s and '70s, SHG&A has nurtured the talents of emerging artists through training and has given exposure to young local artists, many of whom have gone on to global prominence such as Patssi Valdez, Willie Heron, Gronk, Frank Romero, and Diane Gamboa.
In 1987, artist Eduardo Oropeza (1947-2003) began adorning the building with embedded ceramic pieces and mosaics. The three-year project resulted in his largest and most prominent artwork, and it transformed the building's relatively modest facade into a community icon. A large statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe stands in the center’s parking lot (with the mosaic work also done by Oropeza). Inside, the building houses a gallery, printing room, and studio space for artists in residence. In the 1980s, the upstairs reception hall doubled as the Vex providing a rare community venue for emerging East L.A. punk bands. However, the building holds fond memories for generations of East Los Angeles residents, and its significance spans back to the 1950s and '60s. Then, the site was home to the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), and served as an active indispensible community center for local youth. CYO was also the place to go hear local bands – including Thee Midniters, Cannibal and the Headhunters, the Premiers, and the Salas Brothers – who went on to national and international fame for introducing the then-burgeoning East L.A. sound into mainstream rock & roll music.
In 2008, the Los Angeles Archdiocese sold the building to Piedmont Investment Co.; less than two years later, the property is once again on the market. Despite its undeniable significance as both a cultural hub and a unique fusion of art and architecture, the building is not designated as a historic landmark. It is particularly vulnerable because unincorporated Los Angeles County has no local designation program or preservation protections in place. In May, the Conservancy submitted a letter to the property’s listing agent, detailing the history of the building and its potential eligibility as a historical resource. With a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Conservancy commissioned a nomination for the building for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources. The nomination was completed in June and is awaiting submittal to the State Office of Historic Preservation.
The letter and nomination seek to ensure that any future development proposals for the site will be subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act. Overall, the Conservancy’s efforts on behalf of the building aim to protect this unique architectural resource and recognize the rich social and cultural legacy of Self Help Graphics & Art, which has transformed the neighborhood and the lives of many.
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