Arch of Dignity, Equality, and Justice

Arch of Dignity, Equality, and Justice
Map
ArtistJudy Baca
Year2008
MediumMosaic
MovementChicana art
SubjectCesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Mahatma Gandhi, Robert Kennedy, two unnamed farmworkers
Dimensions7.6 m (25 ft)
LocationSan Jose, California, U.S.
Coordinates37°20′09″N 121°52′53″W / 37.335822°N 121.881358°W / 37.335822; -121.881358
OwnerSan Jose State University

The Arch of Dignity, Equality, and Justice, commonly referred to as the Cesar Chavez Arch, is an art installation and monument consisting of a pearlescent plaster arch in the style of a Mayan corbelled arch and includes five Venetian tile mosaics.[1][2] It was created by American artist Judy Baca, and is installed along the Paseo de César Chávez on the San Jose State University campus, in San Jose, California, United States.[3] The four front-facing mosaics feature portraits of Dolores Huerta, Mahatma Gandhi, and two unnamed farmworkers, while the mosaic on the underside of the arch features Cesar Chavez encountering Robert Kennedy.[4]

The top of the arch is adorned with a stacked glass eagle in the style of the United Farm Workers well-known logo.[5] Richard Chavez, César Chávez's brother, originally designed the black Aztec eagle insignia that became the symbol of the National Farm Workers Association and the UFW.[6]

In 2022, San Jose State students and faculty embedded the Arch of Dignity, Equality, and Justice into their Public Art as Resistance project.[1][7][8]

  1. ^ a b "Arch of Dignity | Public Art as Resistance in San Jose". www.sjsu.edu. Archived from the original on 2024-01-10. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  2. ^ "Visit San Jose - Cesar Chavez Memorial Walkway". Archived from the original on 2024-02-24. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  3. ^ "SJ Today - A tour of Cesar Chavez's legacy throughout San Jose". Archived from the original on 2023-05-28. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  4. ^ admin (2010-03-25). "The Cesar Chavez Monument". Judy Baca. Archived from the original on 2024-01-10. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  5. ^ "Arch of Dignity, Equality and Justice (2005-2008)". Judy Baca. Archived from the original on 2024-01-10. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  6. ^ Quinones, Sam (2011-07-28). "Richard Chavez dies at 81; brother of Cesar Chavez (He helped Cesar Chavez build the United Farm Workers into a political and agricultural force. He organized the California grape boycott in the late 1960s.)". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  7. ^ "Public Art as Resistance in San José: A Walking Tour". humanitiesforall.org. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  8. ^ "Public Art as Resistance Walking Tours | San José Museum of Art". sjmusart.org. 2022-06-05. Retrieved 2024-05-28.