San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
S.D., TIJUANA ARTISTS HONOR MEXICAN ICON FERNÁNDEZ WITH MURALS
Tribute to cultural figure, singer on both sides of border
Artists on both sides of the border paid tribute last week to legendary Vicente Fernández by painting murals that commemorate the legacy of the late Mexican singer.
In San Diego, the couple behind Ground Floor Murals painted a portrait of “Chente” on the wall of a creators collective in the Sherman Heights area, while south of the border, Tijuana artist Mode Orozco, chose the exterior of a home in the Colonia Buena Vista.
Fernández was one of the most important figures in Mexican culture, whose music crossed borders and evokes countless memories. He died Dec. 12 at 81 years old in Guadalajara, Jalisco. He was known as the king of ranchera music.
“When I think Vicente Fernández, I automatically think of my grandma and being around the carne asada with my whole family. Like I can almost smell it when I hear Vicente’s songs,” said Paul Jiménez, who formed Ground Floor Murals along with fellow artist Signe Ditona.
The couple had wanted to paint a mural of Fernández for over a year, and upon hearing the news of his passing last Sunday, they grabbed their spray bottles and got to work.
Since plans for a mural were already in place for the recently inaugurated creators collective Imperial Ave Co-lab in Sherman Heights, they opted for a 12foot-tall portrait of a younger Fernández.
“It’s a memorial piece. It’s meant to honor him,” said Ditona, who added that it took them four hours to finish the mural on Monday.
Jiménez said he has such a strong connection with Fernandez’s music, which is why he always knew he would paint him one day.
“For me growing up, honestly it felt like a member of my family. He felt like my second grandpa, because my grandma has such a big crush on him, so growing up, he was just huge for me,” he said.
Also, the couple recalled all the parties with friends where they couldn’t help but sing at the top of their lungs songs like “Volver, volver.”
Milo Lorenzana, coowner of Imperial Ave Colab, at 2460 Imperial Ave., said he anticipates the mural will be on display for a long time.
“It would be hard to cover something like this up,” he said. “So come and take your pictures, grab a cup of coffee or hang out. We don’t see this coming down anytime soon.”
Ground Floor Murals is the company behind a series of San Diego Padres murals that have been painted at various locations around the county. They also painted another mural with the images of boxers Canelo Alvarez and Manny Pacquiao at House of Boxing gym in Paradise Hills.
South of the border, a Tijuana artist worked against the clock Monday to finish a mural to also honor “Chente” before rain hit the border region Tuesday.
Gerardo Mode Orozco knew he wanted to pay tribute to Fernández through his art as soon as he heard the news. It took him nine hours, but he was able to finish on time.
The spray paint mural showing Fernández’s photograph from his album “Para Siempre,” was painted on the wall of a house in Colonia Buena Vista and can be seen from the Vía Rápida freeway.
While he was working on the mural, fans expressed their support either by honking their car horns or shouting “Viva Chente!” Orozco said. “This is a mural for the community and for every Mexican who identified with his songs.”
Tijuana Mayor Montserrat Caballero praised Orozco’s work. “I admire your work so much, Mode! What a pleasure to have you representing icons of our culture like this,” she wrote on Orozco’s Facebook page.
Orozco added that he dedicates this mural to his grandmother and aunts, who grew up with his music, as well to everyone that loved the Mexican idol.