Recapping 2015

Unions became a focus this past year with a mural for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 1245 and Adjunct organizing at the California College of the Arts. I was invited to paint the IBEW 1245 mural by Business Manger Tom Dalzall. Tom also is the author of Quirky Berkeley, and writes about murals too! The mural – Energy and Power – in the Vacaville union hall contributes to a lively visual environment that celebrates the history and activism of the local. The indoor mural, painted in March, compliments large historical photographs and object displays inside and outside the building.

I also joined the movement of adjunct professors around the country fighting for more pay and security. We adjuncts at CCA voted to form a union with SEIU 1021. This is the second time I’ve become involved with SEIU. In 1990, Ray Patlán and I painted a mural on panels for SEIU through the unit at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. A photo of that mural, titled "790" and painted in 1990, is on the Storytellingwalls.com "What Walls" page.

Over the summer I supervised a group of six CCA students that painted a terrific mural Queen Califia Rules! about diversity at CCA and in the arts. Students of color and allies expressed a need for artistic education to include more social conscientiousness, more diverse art history, and more instructors that reflect the diversity of the country. The result is an impressive mural on the historic Martinez Studio building on the Oakland campus. It's been 13 years since a new mural was painted on the wall.

The city of Berkeley honored me with a proclamation thanking me for the cultural work I’ve done over my career and declared May 12, 2015 “Eduardo Pineda Day!” It was an extra special honor because it was also my birthday!

I am also helping out Edwin Lindo, born and raised in the Mission, run for Supervisor of District 9 in San Francisco by designing his campaign logo with Ray Patlán. Edwin is a great and much needed leader. Looking forward to a busy 2016!

Stay creative! Stay Engaged!