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By Olin Ericksen
Staff Writer
May 7 -- Over the purring tailpipes of classic cars
and traditional Mexican music filtering in from the nearby
stage, Andrew Gomez professed pride for his local heritage
in the heart of a Santa Monica neighborhood where cultural
minorities were once the majority.
"I'm Santa Monica, born and raised," said Gomez,
standing near his own jet-black 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline.
"My family has been here 80 or 90 years. My grandmother
was taken to church at St. Anne's with horses."
The lead organizer for a classic car show, Gomez was one
of hundreds who turned out to Virginia Avenue Park in the
heart of the Pico Neighborhood for a pulsing Cinco de Mayo
celebration.
It mattered little to him or the multigenerational families
that packed the park Sunday that the day is not traditionally
celebrated south of the American border, or even that it was
taking place on May 6.
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| Joe Montez in his cherry
red, 1956 Ford Pick-up (Photos by Olin Ericksen) |
From music and dancers, to food and merchandise, it was a
chance for an ever shrinking community in Santa Monica to
pass the lessons and traditions from its elders to those growing
up Mexican-American in Santa Monica and the United States.
"One of the main reasons we are holding this is for
local youth," said Gomez, a City employee in the Parks
and Open Space Department.
Sponsored up by long-standing Pico Neighborhood businesses,
such as the Engler Brothers, the show gave out trophies to
only a few top qualifiers, but featured plenty of curves,
chrome and charisma.
Cars, though, were far from the only works of art and culture
on display.
From everyday people to skilled dancers from Santa Monica
College, the dance floor teamed with women and men of all
ages moving in lock step to the sounds of a bouncing bass
line and the distinctive accordion used in traditional Mexican
folk music.
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| Alondra Ramirez and
Gerardo Terrero perform "cock fight" dance |
"These are dances from the different states of Mexico,"
said Alondra Ramirez just minutes before performing a "cock
fight" dance with her partner, Gerardo Terrero -- both
of whom take a "Mexican Folklorica" class at nearby
Santa Monica College.
After an intense assault of color, stomping and several mock
charges, Ramirez stood victorious over Terrero, who fell to
the ground as the music drew to a close.
Beyond the dance steps, both students and teachers say the
class strives to immerse pupils in the soul of each region
Mexico and its several distinctive states.
"We have a lot of fun," said Ramirez.
Directly behind the main stage, students of a different kind
were holding a more relaxed class on business and art and
where the two concepts intersect.
"The air comes out here, and then you just apply pressure,"
said artist Richard Jauregui, as he gently textured a t-shirt
with spray-paint.
Delicately holding the spray instrument, he motioned his
hands in the pattern he wanted before decisively adding color.
"I used to do graffiti before" said Jauregui, standing
feet away from other teens and young adults he helps teach
spray-art at Virginia Avenue Park's Teen Center, which features
several programs for local youth.
Jauregui has lived in the neighborhood since he was ten and
seems familiar with the host of teens drawing and collecting
funds for the $10 custom-made shirts.
"I'm just starting to make money at doing this,"
said Jauregui, as he wiped sweat away.
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| Richard Jauregui textures
a t-shirt with spray-paint. |
This is the first time he's sold shirts at a fair like this,
but Jauregui said he's already earned a few paychecks working
a Bar Mitzvah.
He was one of several young entrepreneurs at the fair using
art to better themselves and, possibly, earn a living. Several
displayed artwork and created their own designs.
Rafael Lopez -- another spray-artist who is a senior at Santa
Monica High School -- also sold a number of shirts
As the day grew long, families retreated to the comfort of
shade, good food and conversation.
Joe Montez and his wife sat with friends and family at the
back of their cherry red, 1956 Ford Pick-up.
"She's my second wife," said Montez, only half-joking,
after he spent three years restoring the vehicle found stashed
in a Pico Neighborhood garage.
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| Spare wheel cover on
Montez's pick-up. |
On the side, emblazoned on the spare wheel cover, are a horse
and its rider at the end of a long journey. The artwork is
called the "End of the Trail," according to Montez.
"It's old and tired, and I'm old and tired," said
the long-time Santa Monica resident.
Now, said Montez, its time for a new generation of Mexican-Americans
everywhere to continue their own journey, but taking with
them lessons from the past and their heritage.
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