We were saddened to hear this week of the passing of the great artist, Juanishi Orosco, co-founder of the Royal Chicano Air Force Art Collective and major pillar in the mural and Chicano art movement in California. Initially called the “Rebel Chicano Arts Front, it was meant to “foster the arts in the Chicano/Latino community, to educate young people in arts, history and culture, promote political awareness, and to promote support for César Chávez and the United Farm Workers in the heavily agricultural Sacramento-Davis area.”
Juxtapoz Magazine
Juanishi Orosco was a Chicano Movement artist born in Sacramento in 1945. In 1969, Orosco, along with Jose Montoya, Esteban Villa, Ricardo Favela and Rudy Cuellar, started the Royal Chicano Air Force. This art collective came together through a shared purpose of uplifting the Chicano movement through artistic and cultural pursuits. He and other RCAF members created a wealth of art for the Chicano and United Farm Workers movements.
Orosco engaged in arts education and community outreach alongside the RCAF since its formation. He and the RCAF were also involved in Chicano organizing based out of the Washington Neighborhood Center, a Chicano community center that still exists to this day in Sacramento. His work was featured in numerous galleries and exhibitions, including the Smithsonian and the famous Chicano Art: Resistance and Affirmation exhibition in 1990-1993 alongside other major Chicano artists.
Many of Orosco’s murals can still be found throughout California – including in Sacramento.
“I see a lot of artists, especially recently, taking a stand. They see a challenge and step up… We have to support them because you know, our politicians aren’t, so we all need to step up and hold people accountable. We need the dreamers and people tied to DACA to help point the way, because they’re the next generation. We’ve taken it this far, but as guys in our 80s, we’re running out of gas a little. Not totally out of gas, but maybe just a little slower step!”
Juanishi Orosco, in a 2018 interview with Juxtapose Magazine
The Washington Neighborhood Center will be holding a Celebration of Life on Saturday, March 23rd, 2-4 pm. Rest in power, Juanishi!
Leave a Reply