El Espiritu de Fruitvale: The Legacy of Oakland’s Chicano Movement through the Revolutionary Art of Malaquias Montoya
June 20 - August 31, 2024
2285 Gallery at EastSide Arts Alliance
2285 International Blvd. Oakland, CA
Open Hours: Thursday-Saturday 12pm- 6pm
Programming Schedule
June 22 / 1-3pm: Opening Reception
July 13 / 1-4pm: Community Archive Day / 5-7pm: Panel Discussion
August 17 / 1-4pm: Community Archive Day / 5-7pm: Panel Discussion
August 31 / 1-3pm: Closing Reception
El Espíritu de Fruitvale is an immersive exhibition that explores the profound impact of Malquias Montoya in Oakland’s Chicano Movement. This exhibition delves into the intersection of art, activism and community power, illuminating the ways in which Malaquias’ powerful imagery became a visual voice for the bold spirit of the people of Fruitvale, who in the 1960’s and 70’s came together under the resolute call of Chicanismo to fight for liberation and self-determination in the barrios of Oakland.
During the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 70’s, Fruitvale became a vibrant hub for cultural and political mobilization. This period saw the rise of organizations and collectives dedicated to fighting for civil rights, access to education, health, law and politics - places like El Centro Legal de la Raza, La Clínica de la Raza, El Centro Infantil de la Raza, La Escuelita, and the Emiliano Zapata Street Academy were founded by students, activist and community members who embodied the spirit of Chicanismo. Today many of these organizations still exist and remain a legacy of the Chicano Movement - this exhibition traces their history as seen through the artwork of Malaquias Montoya.
El Espiritu de Fruitvale showcases Malaquias’ seminal works alongside historical artifacts, photographs, and oral histories from the Chicano Movement in Fruitvale. Through this juxtaposition, the exhibition highlights the symbiotic relationship between art and activism. Montoya’s work is presented not just as art, but as a dynamic force that fueled and reflected Fruitvale’s struggle for justice. Visitors will experience how Malaquias’ visual language speaks to the lived experiences of the students, artists and activists who transformed Fruitvale into a beacon of resistance.
Together the works on view will illustrate the physical legacy of the Chicano Movement in the Fruitvale and highlight the spaces, places and stories that were at the heart of the Movimiento in Oakland.
Additional components to this project include: a printed publication available at Bandung Bookstore and a public activation of spaces throughout the Fruitvale District.
El Espiritu de Fruitvale is a project developed in partnership with the Fruitvale History Project.
This project is made possible with support from Zellerbach Family Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts and California Humanities, a partner of the NEH.
