Over the Summer, the Los Medanos College Art Department partnered with the Buildings and Grounds Department to install a mural highlighting Native American culture. Located on the Student Union’s first floor right of the entrance, students can now marvel at the artwork inspired by local artist Andrew Valencia and the 10 2-D design class taught by Eric Sanchez.
“The significance of the piece was to highlight the indigenous community and was installed in the last week of July, early August,” said Sanchez. The mural was blessed by the POMO KASHAYA tribe before it was installed. The significance brings cadence to the importance of thetribe of the region, and is an honest interpretation regarding the Native American culture.
Valencia speaks on the inspiration behind the piece, “I am a Native American myself POMO KASHAYA. I wanted the piece to be tribe specific and capture the fact that the people are a matriarchal society,” said Valencia. POMO KASHAYA translates to, “People from the Top of the Land.” The tribe currently lives in the Clear Lake area north of San Francisco, and along the Russian River.
The mural was painted in sections by the Art 10 2-D design team and local volunteers brought inspiration and light to the artwork.
“Although I was contacted by LMC, I was sold on our first contact,” says Valencia, “ LMC displayed high regard to represent the people of the land with good intentions. So I was honored to help however I could.” Eric Sanchez, an art Instructor at LMC also adds that the piece signifies the POMO KASHAYA tribe, and how women are the pinnacle of their faith.
This artwork is impactful to LMC students because of the recognition of the local indigenous tribe and the sense of diversity and inclusion it holds.
“Everything we are today would not exist without women,” says Valencia, “therefore you see the women as helpers and protectors.” The wolf in this piece is also sacred to this tribe, and symbolizes creation, healing, and family.
