Juan Hernandez: Far Left
Juan Hernandez, an artist employed by the Community Cultural Arts
Organization (CCAO) at the Cassiano Homes in the Westside of San
Antonio, painted the cover art mural in 1985. Hernandez, a Lanier High
School graduate, most often worked with a team of young artists in
training.
The mural commemorates the participation of Mexican
Americans in World War II. More than 500,000 Mexican Americans served in
the military during World II, many of whom volunteered for service
following the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The mural is one of many large
murals painted in the Westside community almost 40 years ago. A
majority of the more than 50 existing murals are located in the center
of the Cassiano Homes just west of Zarzamora Street and the San Antonio
Produce Market. Most of these colorful murals were painted at the
Cassiano site by young artists who were mentored through CCAO youth art
programs. The CCAO, headed by Anastacio Torres, received funding from
the City of San Antonio’s public housing offices to beautify the
surroundings of the Cassiano Homes during the 1980s. This mural and many
others are in dire need of repainting since many of them have faded
with the intense Texas sun.