SAN FERNANDO MEMORIALIZES FARMWORKER HERO SONS OF CHAVEZ, RFK TO UNVEIL ART.

Byline: Rachel Uranga Staff Writer

SAN FERNANDO - The Cesar Chavez Memorial Plaza in San Fernando - billed as one of the nation's most impressive public-art memorials to the labor activist - will be unveiled today by one of his sons and a son of Bobby Kennedy.

The 22,000-square-foot park, replete with a 100-foot mural and a 6-foot bronze statue of Chavez, was paid for in part by $95,000 in contributions from community residents and an artist who donated money as well as his time. Chavez's son Paul and Kennedy's son Max will participate in the unveiling.

``It's one of the nation's most important and impressive public-art projects dedicated to his life,'' said Andres Irlando, president of the Glendale-based Cesar E. Chavez Foundation, established by family members after his death.

Irlando, whose foundation endorses hundreds of memorials and services to the labor activist, said the San Fernando plaza is unusual for its backers, including many who were long involved with the United Farm Workers Union.

``We are all so happy,'' said Councilman Jose Hernandez, who proposed the memorial after Chavez died in 1993.

Hernandez, a former farmworker who now teaches Chicano studies at California State University, Northridge, marched with Cesar Chavez during the 1960s and 1970s, both in San Fernando and at CSUN.

``He represents the best in a human being. He's an inspiration to all working-class people, domestic laborers - not only to Chicanos and Latinos, but to all. He represents the fight for equality. And I am so elated to have this.''

For five decades, Chavez drew attention to abuses endured by migrant farmworkers. Many in San Fernando, a largely Latino city of 23,000, are themselves former farmworkers or children and grandchildren of farmworkers, Hernandez explained.

The park, which runs alongside the Metrolink, was supposed to open March 28 to coincide with the city's annual March for Justice in honor of Chavez. But artist Ignacio Gomez fell behind schedule in creating the bronze statue, and city officials further delayed the opening after deciding they wanted more detail in the mural, which depicts the life of the farmworker.

``It was well worth it,'' said Ron Ruiz, assistant to the city administrator who helped spearhead the project.

Built along one of the city's major thoroughfares, the park cost about $340,000, with about $90,000 appropriated by city government and $155,000 from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, in addition to the individual donations.

The goal, artist Gomez said, was to create a space of hope, inspiration and education. The mural and statue frame a series of cut-out silhouettes that center the triangle-shape park. The series depicts the evolution of the farmworker from a man crouching down in the field with a small hoe to one standing tall and marching with pride.

``It's personal because I know the hardship of the (farmworkers) and what they went through,'' said Gomez, who designed Chavez's headstone.

``He was soft-spoken, but to me he was a giant, and I hope the statue portrays that.''

Rachel Uranga, [phone]

rachel.uranga(at)dailynews.com

IF YOU GO

Cesar Chavez Memorial Plaza unveiling today at Wolfskill and Truman streets in San Fernando. Event begins at 6 p.m., with speeches at 7 p.m. and ribbon-cutting about 8 p.m. For information, call [phone] or visit sfcity.org

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box, map

Photo:

(1 -- color) Artist Ignacio Gomez, who designed a Cesar Chavez memorial being dedicated today in San Fernando, sees the farm-labor leader as a moral giant.

(2) Artists August Santistevan of Glendale, foreground, and Felix Perez of Antelope Valley work on a mural designed by Ignacio Gomez in a Cesar Chavez memorial being dedicated today.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

Box:

IF YOU GO (see text)

Map:

Cesar Chavez Memorial Plaza

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