On Monday, March 18, the Leo F. Cain University Library introduced a striking new addition to the CSUDH campus: a huge mural created by Presidential Artist in Residence Cristina Martinez. The mural, titled “Women in Bloom,” will provide a lasting legacy of Martinez’ collaboration with the campus.
“I like to take these opportunities to have as many people as possible see themselves in my work, especially when it’s going to be on the side of a building like this,” said Martinez. “In thinking about the students, I wanted to incorporate many different skin tones.
“Plus, with this being Women’s History Month, I wanted to create something that would let the women of CSUDH feel empowered, seen, and heard.”
At the unveiling, CSUDH President Thomas Parham expressed his excitement at the bold new mural. “I’m loving what I’m seeing,” said Parham. “The fact that this respected artist chose to display her work here at Dominguez Hills says a lot about our connectedness to the community, which is what we try to do. We try to be not just in the community but of the community.
“I love that the piece shows faces of women of all colors and shapes and sizes, who together are creating a collective image,” Parham continued. “CSUDH is a campus with 68 percent women students, so to be able to see that reflected here, showing women in bloom, aligns perfectly with our campus mission of helping students reach the fullest expression of all they’re meant to become.”
CSUDH Executive Director of Strategic Engagement and Resource Acquisition Nnamdi Okafor was instrumental in establishing the partnership between Martinez and the university. Upon seeing the finished mural, he joined in the excitement.
“It strikes up conversation,” he said. “It’s a really dramatic piece, and I think the variety of colors and shapes will allow Toro students to see themselves in the piece and I hope they feel represented in a new way. It’s something to take pride in.”
Martinez created the original piece digitally, and the unveiling was her first time seeing it at full-scale. “It’s amazing,” she said. “This whole experience was a learning process for me. When you create something at this scale, there’s always that thought that something could go wrong, but this looks really impressive.”
In speaking of her time as CSUDH Presidential Artist in Residence, the Seattle-based artist added, “It’s been a great experience. I feel that my work and I have been so valued. I’ve been really inspired. I came in wanting to inspire students, but am coming away from it super inspired myself! It’s been awesome.”
Cristina Martinez’ “& Still We Bloom” exhibition will continue through May 17, 2024, at the CSUDH University Library Multicultural Art Gallery, 1000 E. Victoria Street, Carson.
