For immediate Release

February 23, 2006

Artist Oscar Martinez completes a historical
significant mural at the University of Illinois at
Champaign that took 30 years in the making.

oscar@oscarmartinez.com

Artist Oscar Martínez of OAK PARK, IL- February 11,
2006

Thirty years ago artist Oscar Martinez created the
mural "Asi Nos Unimos, Nuestra Victoria" in the Spring
of 1975 on the walls of La Casa, a Latino cultural
center at the University of Illinois at
Champaign-Urbana. "The purpose of the mural is to
showcase the various Latino cultures, heritage, and
the struggles of Latino students on campus. They
struggle to achieve educational fairness and to open
the doors to educational opportunities for all" said
Mr. Martinez. The mural is located at a building that
currently houses the Latina/Latinos Studies Program,
510 E. Chalmers, in Champaign.
In 1975 Mr. Martinez, a student at the university, had
very few financial resources and limited supplies to
paint the mural. As a result, he used his own paints
and depended on small donations from other students.
In order to maximize the paints, he used water down
colors with the intent that someday he would be able
to return and add the final layer of paint to the
mural. In addition, his plan was to paint the ceiling
and other walls on the first floor of the building. He
ran out of time and was not able to finish the mural.
On the 30th anniversary of the mural, he was invited
to restore and finish the mural. "I am thankful to
Chancellor Nancy Cantor, Latino students and faculty
for their support and active involvement in allowing
me to complete and restore the mural," said Mr.
Martinez. The ceiling part of the mural was intended
to be a painting of hope and of reaffirmation to the
many struggles Latino students endure to assure the
prosperity of Latino on campus. As a result, the
ceiling mural theme's is the celebration the many
Latino cultures and symbolizes their hopes and
aspirations. The colors of the painting are bright and
he use nature as a metaphor of Latinos tie to the land
and agriculture. The mural speaks about reaffirming of
Latino and students rights and of political power. It
celebrates education as a tool for prosperity and
knowledge. It also pays tribute to students who
sacrifice their well being so that others can take
advantage of the many educational opportunities
offered by the university. "It conveys spiritual
growth and cultural pride as we take our place in
society" said Mr. Martinez.
The ceiling mural uses the same design style as the
original wall mural. "I am grateful to have been given
the opportunity to complete a project that is close to
my heart and that has been used as a symbol to
influenced positive changes and pride at the
university" said Mr. Martinez.
Oscar Martinez' Biography
Oscar Martínez was born in Maragüez, Puerto Rico and
resides in Chicago, Illinois. Through the study of
science and art at the University of Illinois at
Champaign, in 1977, he received a Bachelor of Science
in Medical Art from the University of Illinois Medical
Center. Mr. Martínez is an accomplished artist who
has had numerous group and solo exhibitions throughout
the Caribbean, Mexico, and the South Eastern and
Midwest regions of the U.S. Among his many credits,
his work has been shown in the Museum of Bellas Artes
and the National Historical Museum in Mexico, the
Desplaines Museum in Illinois, NIU Museum’s Gallery in
Chicago, the Field Museum of Chicago, the State of
Illinois Museum in Springfield and its gallery in
Chicago at the State of Illinois Building.
Additionally, his work has been featured on various
television shows and published in newspapers and
magazines.
Martínez was actively involved in the Chicago mural
movement and has painted numerous murals throughout
out the city. Moreover, he was appointed by the Mayor
of Chicago to judge the international Design/Build
competition for the Chicago Public Library and the
selection of the library's art collection. He was
also appointed by the Governor of the State of
Illinois to the Illinois Arts Council where he served
as chair of Media Arts. Furthermore, he has served on
various boards and commissions including as President
of the Latino Institute of Chicago. He currently
completed a ceiling mural at the University of
Illinois Champaign-Urbana. Recently, To be publish in
2006 he was included as an famous Hispanic in the U.S.
in a biographical books about Hispanic that will be
publish in 2006 by Americans for the Brown Reference
Group in the U.K. He also 2005 was included in a
chapter in the book "Desde los escondrijos de Satán:
crónicas [entredichas] sobre el arte y la cultura en
Puerto Rico"by Egberto Almenas Ph.D., Published in San
Juan, P.R., by ELF Creative Workshop, 2005
His artwork can be viewed at www.oscarmartinez.com
###