One of the most interesting facets of murals as an art form is their historic role in coveting the talents of young artists through apprenticeship, a passing down of techniques and symbolic meaning from generation to generation. While murals themselves exist in a state of precariousness, often left unprotected and subject to whitewashing, the next generation of artists learning this important art form ensure the preservation of Chicano histories in Denver as they are painted again and again.
The Su Teatro mural was painted on the front of its namesake Cultural and Performing Arts Center in 2012. Carlos Fresquez (b.1956) and students of the Metropolitan State University of Denver enrolled in his public art class created this mural in collaboration with the founder of the theater and the Santa Fe Arts District of Denver, named after the southwestern architectural style of many buildings residing on this street. This mural is one of several that have since expanded onto the whole exterior of the theater as Fresquez and students continue to paint.
Just as the sites where murals are painted have historically taken on the role of educating youth outside of the realm of traditional schooling, Su Teatro’s performances over the course of its over fifty year history have served to covet student talent for the next generation as well as engage the broader public. Open since 1972, Su Teatro or “your theater,” began as a student-organized theater group at the University of Colorado at Denver showing performances in support of local and national protests of the Chicano Movement. Where the local history of Colorado from its origins as part of Mexico and the influence of hispanic traditions was not something incorporated into the traditional education system, Su Teatro was able to put on performances that highlighted this history such as one titled Chicano History: 101. As of today, this space serves as a Latino cultural arts center, where full length plays and productions allow patrons to experience their heritage come to life.
Fresquez and his students emphasize the richness of the stories told inside of the theater by adorning its exterior with mural motifs associated with Mesoamerica, as the performances taking place inside of the space often do. An art historical analysis such as the one presented below furthers the connection between the mural exterior and the shows taking place inside the theater in both their purpose and narrative goals.
If we consider the Su Teatro mural as part of a public open studio practice wherein students apprentice under experienced and prolific artists such as Fresquez, this allows for us to approach their historic designation and subsequent preservation as important works thoroughly embedded in their context. Not only can preservationists consider the works to be created or designed by a master artist, but the site of creation becomes significant for its role in training the next generation of great artists, educating and celebrating the community, as well as honoring the building where these murals reside. Even as many murals remain unprotected and become subject to erasure, Su Teatro communicates the lasting and resilient presence of Chicano art and culture in Denver.