EXERPTS ABOUT MARIO TORERO AS
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MARIO TORERO: Artist of the people
Sandra Torres, Cadavoz.org; from Latino Builders Magazine, Jan/Feb, 2003

MARIO TORERO: Artist of the people
Article by Sandra Torres

His art can be seen all over San Diego, from Logan Heights to La Mesa. He’s rooted in the history of the city with his murals and the message they bring of hope and unity. He is Mario Torero, an inspirational artist and activist who continues the vision of better communities for all.

Mario is originally from Peru and grew up in Logan Heights. Learning about the community and its challenges from an early age. In the second half of the 60s Mario was a man on a mission when he joined the Chicano movement and helped initiate muralism in Chicano Park. The movement was called the Chicano Civil Rights Movement or “El Movemiento”. Along with other key activists, he helped fight for the right to keep Chicano Park and better their neighborhood and their quality of life. “Because of our energy we were able to clear the drugs out, get rid of the junkyards, and cleaned up the area, and I was proud,” explains Mario. He was in his early 20s when he painted his first murals. The murals painted in the 7.4 acres of Chicano Park narrate the history of the communities’ challenges, hardships, and victories. The murals not only depicted the past, but also captured the aspirations of what the neighborhood & community could become.

Mario’s murals are not only limited to Chicano Park and Mexican-American communities. In 1986 he painted the King Community mural at 32nd Street and Imperial Ave. The mural included Martin Luther King Jr., Cesar Chavez, Gandhi and other leaders that strived for peace. After years had gone by the mural started to deteriorate, and Mario was asked to help revitalize it. “I knew I had to do something because it was a piece of African-American heritage that was going to go away”.

Mario also wants to encourage the new generations of artists to participate in the revitalization of their communities. The movement that stemmed from the original 70s movement is now called Fuerza, meaning Strength. The latest project developed is the Chicano Park School of Art. “I realized I needed to start a school of art, so I just started showing up at Chicano Park to paint and pretty soon, other people started showing up too.” Mario along with other artists of different ages and ethnic backgrounds have been gathering at the park every Saturday for over a month. Mario calls it Chicano Park Root Days, and they’re not just painting murals anymore. “We’re planting trees, we’re digging earth sculptures, and making benches for the elders.” Explains Mario. It’s a people’s community school of art and Mario invites everyone to participate. “We want artists, but you don’t have to be an artist, anyone who wants to come and participate is welcome”.

The goal is to revitalize every open space available, and to have the murals that started at Chicano Park continue growing and expanding to other communities “We want to maintain our culture through the murals we paint,” he said

Mario who is now 54 years young continues his role of a community leader with a vision of a better tomorrow by teaching the younger generations artistic expression. He inspires the artist and activist in all. “Artists are the ones who are pioneers and move forward to change things,” says Mario.

Artist cries foul over whitewash of 'Eyes' mural
Diane Bell, San Diego Union Tribune, December 6, 2003

Artist cries foul over whitewash of 'Eyes' mural
Diane Bell, San Diego Union Tribune

December 6, 2003

They're gone. The haunting "Eyes of Picasso" that graced the facade of the old Carnation Dairy building at 10th Avenue and J Street downtown are there no longer. They were painted over to make way for redevelopment by new owners planning to construct three condo towers.

The "Eyes" and the Carnation building have gone through numerous transformations over the years. The mural, painted by local artist Mario Torero, started its life in 1978 on the side of the Knights of Pythias Building at Third Avenue and E Street. That building, home of the Community Arts Center, was torn down to make way for Horton Plaza in the mid-1980s, so Torero and fellow artists repainted the colorful mural of tear-spilling eyes on the Carnation building. The former dairy was then owned by Union Bank. Bank officials, who hadn't authorized the artwork, quickly painted over it. Torero & Friends repainted it. Again bank workers covered it. In a war of wills, Torero painted the "Eyes" a third time. This time the bank left the mural in tact and sold the building to architect Wayne Buss. He created what he called the ReinCarnation Project of artists' spaces as well as offices and residential lofts. The "Eyes" became the symbol of "art alive" in the heart of downtown San Diego.

The Eyes of Picasso will live on through
an artist collective gathering on July 10th downtown, called the Eyes of San Diego.
To learn more click here: http://eyesofsandiego.com

Mario Torero
Email: mariotorero@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.fuerzamundo.org/index.html
Studio: 619-299-2840
Pager: 619-899-7521
Cell: 858-774-1286