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In 1932, two years following the opening of Olvera Street, prominent Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros painted a mural entitled América Tropical on the south wall of the Italian Hall where the Plaza Art Center was located. The 18 x 82 foot masterpiece allegorically depicts the struggle of indigenous cultures against imperialism. Controversial since the unveiling, the content of América Tropical was censored by whitewash in 1938.

Today, it stands as a symbol of the convergence of culture, politics and art. Its conservation in the mid-1990’s marked the beginning of an important period for the City of Los Angeles. The historic partnership among the City of Los Angeles, the Getty Conservation Institute and Amigos de Siqueiros will allow for the construction of a viewing platform and interpretive center so that the public may once again enjoy one of the city’s most-prized artistic treasures.

Sincerely,
Amigos de Siqueiros Co-Chairs
Dan Guerrero & Dalila Teresa Sotelo

David Alfaro Siqueiros

David Alfaro Siqueiros (1896-1974) was a Mexican muralist who along with Diego Rivera and Jose Clemente Orozco, were collectively known as Los Tres Grandes. Siqueiros fought in the Mexican Revolution and against Franco’s fascists during the Spanish Civil War, and remained a political activist throughout his life.
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América Tropical

The title América Tropical conjures images of a romantic paradise replete with lush foliage and exotic birds, yet the mural’s content defies such conventional expectations. Unveiled on the night of October 9, 1932, the expansive (18’ x 82’) mural depicted, among the foliage and birds, a sym bolic central figure – a crucified indigenous man.
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