Precita Eyes Muralists
Staff

Susan Cervantes
​Founding Executive Director, MFA
[email protected] 
www.susankcervantes.com
Susan Kelk Cervantes, a 47-year veteran of the San Francisco community mural art movement, is the founder and director of the Precita Eyes Muralists in the Mission District of San Francisco. Established in 1977, Precita Eyes is one of only a handful of community mural arts centers in the United States. Cervantes is responsible for more than 200 collaborative community murals considered some of the finest in the Bay Area such as Cesar Chavez Elementary School, Mission Playground Pool, Precita Valley Community Center, the S.F.Women’s Building, 24th Street Mini Park and many others. She is dedicated to social change by enhancing the environment through the creation of murals while involving and educating the public through the community mural art process.

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Kerra Hendrickson
​Administrative Assistant

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​Patricia Rose
​Tour Coordinator
[email protected]
Patricia Rose received her BFA in painting from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1983. She first became involved with Precita Eyes in 1980. While completing her degrees she received training in mural painting technique and the collaborative process from Susan Cervantes. Her involvement with community-oriented nonprofit arts organizations goes back to her work at The Farm, a multi-cultural multimedia arts center in San Francisco where she worked from 1978-86. She received a 1983 Artist Residency from the NEA and served as director of the Farm Art Gallery from 1984-86. In addition, Ms. Rose has served in various capacities at Precita Eyes, including store manager, membership coordinator, advisory board member, mural walk docent, and currently as mural tour coordinator.

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Paola Reyes Melendez
Arts Education Director
[email protected]​
Paola Reyes Melendez, first-generation Mexican-Puerto Rican, received her BFA in Fine Arts from the University of San Francisco in 2021. Shortly after transferring from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she intensively studied Biological Anthropology in addition to Studio Arts. She lived a nomadic lifestyle and decided to move to San Francisco to immerse herself in public art. Becoming involved with Precita Eyes through an internship where Susan Cervantes mentored her through restorations, mosaics, and murals. After Reyes Melendez’s internship was complete, she continued to be involved with Precita Eyes by volunteering to help with the yearly Urban Youth Art Festival. Leading to the opportunity to be a Lead Co-Artist with three Veteran Precita Eyes Muralists. She has dedicated her work to making art accessible to all, encouraging change in social structures, and informing on environmental changes.

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Jorge Morell
​Business Director
[email protected]

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Cindy De Losa
​Store Manager
[email protected]
Cynthia De Losa Mexican-Italian, third generation native San Franciscan. Daughter of Joe De Losa, retired Teamster and Connie De Losa, Interior designer. Born at Mary's Help Hospital on Clinton Park, November 5. Inspired early in life by her Grandmother Juanita Romero, who instilled in her strong values, determination and creativity. While shopping at her corner store in Noe Valley she saw a bubble gum machine with individual "Homie" figurines, she then purchased some shadow boxes and the IDEA was born. Her style of Art showcases an event capturing the spirit of the "Homies", depicting her neighborhood and places where she grew up and spent time. This media known as "Diorama" is similar to the "Niche concept", popular in Mexican Folk Art. Cynthia brings this concept to life together with the "Homie" figurines and photo backgrounds.

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Xavier Bess
​Store Assistant, Color Matcher
Xavier was born and raised in San Francisco, growing up he had always been interested in drawing and coloring. What inspires his art is whatever is on his mind or whatever thing he's obsessed with, for a while it has been eyes, so sometimes he challenges himself to not add eyes in my art at all. He has been a part of the Precita family for about 5 years now as a paint mixer, store clerk, and mural restorer. Xavier enjoys being at Precita Eyes because it’s a lot of good energy and he learns a lot just by being around everything and everyone.

Max MarttilaMax Marttila
Store assistant and Color Matcher

Fred Alvarado
​Youth Arts Educator
[email protected]
thehometurf.tumblr.com
Fredericko (Fred) Alvarado born in Chicago, IL, grew up in Long Beach, California, and received his Undergraduate Degree at the San Francisco Art Institute. He completed his Graduate Degree at the California College of the Arts, with an emphasis in Social Practices. Fredericko Alvarado is a project based artist whose practice takes form as murals, zine making, video, paintings, drawings, and curatorial practices. His work revolves around building with communities in the creations of site specific art works.​

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​Aureliano "Yano" Rivera
Staff

Max Marttila
Support Staff

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Precita Eyes Muralists Mission
​Precita Eyes Muralists Association, Inc., established in 1977, is a community-based, inner-city mural arts organization devoted to enriching and beautifying urban environments through community mural collaborations. We bring art into the daily lives of people through a process that enables them to reflect their specific concerns, joys, and triumphs.