The new mural, “La Memoria de la Tierra: UCLA” or “The Memory of Earth: UCLA,” was unveiled on April 1, 2022. Located on the north side of Ackerman Union, this art was the result of three years of work by Judith Baca, UCLA professor emeritus of Chicana and Chicano and Central American studies.
Nearly 80-feet, the mural depicted the history, present and future of UCLA and the land where it resides. The work features historical figures such as Toypurina, a Tongva woman who opposed colonial rule by Spanish missionaries, and Dolores Huerta, an iconic labor leader who worked with César Chávez. Notable scenes from social justice history, such as the 2020 Black Lives Matter student demonstrations, are also included.
“We hope in the future that students will be able to sit here [in this courtyard] and be able to find out who these people are and what did they do,” siad Baca.
This mural was created through a partnership between the UCLA Centennial Committee, Associated Students UCLA (ASUCLA) and Digital Mural Lab from the Social and Public Art Resource Center. Financial support for the project was provided by Wescom Credit Union.
Learn more about Baca and “La Memoria de la Tierra: UCLA” at UCLA Newsroom.
Image Source: Don Liebig/ASUCLA
