Last October, the San Anto Cultural Arts Center in San Antonio, Texas, unveiled their latest artistic tribute to the community, the "Sweet as Candy Lowrider Mural." The 30' x 12' mural was spearheaded by world-renowned Chicano artist Alex Rubio and completed with the help of local area students. Lead designers Ruth Buentello, Oscar Flores, Damien Hernandez and Victor Mena put their heads together to design the lowrider-clad illustration which was completed in seven months, along with the help of their apprentices Chris Munoz, Melody Pierce and Carla Valdez, all of whom are connected with the art facility that sponsored the project.
The San Anto Cultural Arts Center is a non-profit community arts group run by a group of volunteers. Its main goal is to encourage the artistic endeavors of young people and adults alike through art, journalism and video production as a means of fostering community, social educational and human development. Since its inception in 1993, the Center has been responsible for 19 major murals throughout the neighborhood and has since begun publishing their own community newspaper El Placazo.
The Sweet as Candy Lowrider Mural is a tribute to the lowrider tradition and culture in the San Antonio region and the bajito pictured in the mural is modeled after one of the many lows owned by the Stewart family. The day that the mural was presented to the community a parade of lowrider cars, including a few from members of 1st Impressions C.C., made their way to the corner of Chupaderas and Guadalupe Streets, where the mural was installed, to show their support. Father Marty Elsner blessed the piece.
The San Anto Cultural Arts would like to send many thanks to the following supporters, donors and volunteers--Inner City Development, Annie E. Casey Charitable Foundation, Kronkosky Charitable Foundation, San Antonio Area Foundation, San Antonio Office of Cultural Affairs, Victor Miramontes, Terry Ybanez, Al Aguilar and Gisela Girard, Angela de Hoyos, HEB, Frank Wing, Jack and Dee Willome, Tesoro, UTSA, Frost Bank, M&A Editions, KWEX, Maverick Apartments and USAA.