The 559 Mural Project

‘If you want change, you have to be a part of it. You can’t just sit back and expect somebody else to do it for you.’ That’s what I would say.” an interview with Vida en el Valle. That is what Vicki has dedicated her life to - to community and making a difference.

Vicki dreamed of being a diplomat studying at the University of Madrid and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. But during graduate studies that all changed while taking dance classes in Guanajuato at La Escuela Superior de Danza Mexicana. What started as a hobby turned into a fulfilling and rewarding career in education, performing arts, and social activism.

Vicki received a Bachelors degree from Fresno State and a Masters degree from Fresno Pacific University and the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, receiving four teaching credentials including dance. After her studies, she returned to her roots, the Central Valley, and began teaching in many of the rural towns in Fresno County impacting many students' lives.

Many of us may know Vicki for her pioneering efforts in the performing arts at Selma High School where she taught for 35 years. There she developed the long-standing & renowned Los Paisanos, recognized as an authentic Mexican folkloric group nationally and internationally. In 2018 Vicki Filgas received an award from Arte Americas and the Danzantes Del Valle Coalition recognizing her pioneering work in Traditional Mexican Folkloric Dance in public schools. We see that inspiring legacy thriving at the Centro de Folklor in Selma.

See Vicki's contribution to Selma's Mural Walkway.

Photo Credit: DANIEL CÁSAREZ

Ome Lopez is the co-founder of Dulce UpFront a multimedia art collective in Fresno creating a community through conscious art and safe spaces for youth and their families. Ome was born and raised in Sanger, CA receiving a Bachelors in Social Work and a Master's degree in Public Administration.

People are at the heart of Ome's work as an artist, activist, and cultural healer through DJing. Ome was recently featured by The Luz Collective on Instagram, "[DJs]are like alchemists. They change the mood [and] the environment. They help people find their joy in their lives."

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ome's DJ services were immediately canceled. She turned that negative into a positive and began doing DJ sets on FaceBook LIVE for the community, lifting spirits up as we all navigated this new reality. Word got out, (thanks Liz Gonzalez of KMPH 26 News) and soon Ome was getting booked to DJ virtual events for notable non-profits throughout California and most recently with the Leadership Council.

After the consecutive murders of black life under police authority, Ome's Dulce UpFront got to work and organized the #LiftEveryVoice Fresno Mural Tour to fight racial injustice and support the #BlackLivesMatter movement. In a matter of 8 weeks, the artists painted 14 beautiful murals - an amazing accomplishment.

Professor Gonzales was born in Pomona, California, and was raised in La Verne, California. He spent a lot of his childhood in Strathmore, California, at his grandparent's “Rancho”. He went to California State University, Long Beach, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chicano Studies. He then attended the University of California, Irvine, and earned a Single Subject Teaching Credential. He also earned a Pupil Personnel Services Credential at San Jose State University a Master of Arts in Counseling Education and Fresno at the Pacific University.

He has been an educator and heavily involved in community engagement for over 40 years, primarily in Fresno and Madera counties. He has taught many students as early as junior high to college students, while at times serving as a student counselor. Professor Gonzales currently teaches Chicano Artistic Expression classes at California State University, Fresno where he has been teaching for eleven years, however, is "semi-retired". In 2006, Professor Gonazales was elected as a Fellow for the Kika De La Garza – Fellowship Program for Hispanic Serving Institutions in Washington D.C. He has been a part of the development, implementation, and then coordinator Madera Center College Advantage Program or MCCAP and was integral in developing and directing the MAYA Leadership Conferences from 2000-2009. 

Professor Gonzales has served as a member of several boards having the role as President. These boards include: Board of Trustees for Spring Valley School District, Madera County, State President of the Association of Mexican-American Educators, President of the Board of Directors for Arte Americas, Fresno, California, Board of Directors for Central Valley Ronald McDonald House Charities, and presently he is on the board of Directors for Youth Leadership Institute.

He and his wife of 35 years have two daughters both graduates of the University of California. He loves to travel and has visited 20 countries. He also enjoys playing the guitar, woodworking, and continues to do research related to family history.

Eddie O. Rodriguez was born in, San Jose, California, to two immigrant parents. Eddie got his first introduction to the arts at an early age from his mother. His mother was really good at drawing and by 8th he decided to pursue art as a full-time career and was super dedicated to this work getting support from the principal to create a specialized curriculum. During his high school education, he soon began to win awards and received several scholarships, the most significant receiving a full-ride scholarship to fund his undergraduate education.

Eddie attended The Academy of Arts University (AAU) in San Francisco, CA. He reached out to several directors in his concentration to develop a modified curriculum that focused on interests. He won several awards from his university and began to work in his field while still in school. He received his BFA from AAU with high honors, in 2008. He was immediately hired by his university upon graduation. He simultaneously began his gallery career with much success, specializing in photorealism. He went on to teach at several schools, in the US and the UAE. He trained the art faculty of The American University in Dubai, on drawing. He has shown in several galleries throughout California.

In, late 2019, Rodriguez, began an effort to help Central Valley artists, along with artists from other areas, to show their work at galleries, and to bridge the gap between the art market in the Central Valley and San Francisco. He was inducted into two art collectives. In the process of forging these new relationships and gaining experience as a muralist.

The hardships of 2020 have revealed the importance of art in our societies, along with the coping and healing qualities it possesses. Rodriguez has partnered with two other Merced artists to strengthen the arts in Merced and was recently appointed to the Merced City Arts and Culture Commission, all of which will have an increased impact in the arts in Merced.