Mario Lara is the Lead Artist of a collaborative public art team from the community of Sherman Heights. The Sherman Heights-NDAP team won a public art competition and was awarded a commission from the City of San Diego Commission For Arts and Culture in partnership with Partners For Livable Places, San Diego's Neighborhood Design Arts Program (NDAP).

Funding is provided by a grant from The National Endowment For The Arts and the City of San Diego Public Art Fund. Additional funding provided by Council District 8 and The Central Commercial District Revitalization Corporation. Permission to use the trolley station as the project site was granted by the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and The San Diego Accociation of Governments (SANDAG). The project was completed and dedicated on March 23, 2006.

Project Description:

Sherman Heights NDAP Team:

Mario Lara, Lead Artist and Project Manager
Louise Torio, Community Leader and Project Coordinator
John Hiemstra, Mosaic Artist and Community Resident
Ruben Seja, Artist
Pita Ruiz, Community Leader and Resident
Todd McKerrow, Architectural Intern and Community Resident

The project site is the 25th and Commercial/Cesar E. Chavez Trolley Station located at the junction of the communities of Sherman Heights and Logan Heights near downtown San Diego, Calif. The trolley station is managed by the SANDAG/Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). Approval was granted to the Sherman Heights-NDAP team to use the trolley station as a project site by the Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB).

The artwork is inspired by the spirit of Cesar E. Chavez as a community leader. The artwork is constructed of painted steel and stainless steel fabricated components. The forms are inspired by the United Farm Workers (UFW) "Huelga" eagle icon created by Cesar E. Chavez. The undulating panels have water-jet cut text of a bi-lingual quote "We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community" and a likeness of Cesar. The overall form is inspired by the American Eagle and the universal Dragon-form. Both symbolize power and unity and are prominent in cultures in the Americas and world wide.

Additionally, positioned throughout the trolley station are concrete seating shapes with ceramic mosaics designed by team artist John Heimstra depicting aspects of the life of Cesar E. Chavez and the struggle of the migrant farm workers of California.