1995_03 Insight March 1995

              MARCH 1,1995
In Focus
Humble gallery lands big-name exhibit
♦ Valuable collection by
renowned artist to show at
Centro Bellas Artes
By Robert Williamson
Staff Writer
Driving up to the cinder-block building standing alone at 1048 E St.. one
s thc vivid mural
immediately n
covering the
southeast wall.
Called
"Homeless of
the World." lhc
mural, designed
by Manuel
Martinez, is a
tribute and a reminder, says
Jose Luis
Barraza. executive director of
Centro Bellas
Aries (CBA).
"It's to remind
us that we
should be more
conscious of the
homeless and
not just on thc
days of giving."
Barraza said.
"Itl Chinatown,
you see the __^^^^^^^
plight of ihe
homeless on a daily basis."
Barraza. soft-spoken and articulate.
shows up early for work to the gallery and offices located behind security bars on the southwest wall of
CBA headquarters.
Barraza. 42. who's also on the Board
of the Historic Preservation and
Chinatown Design Committee, said
CBA's basic mission is to promote the
efforts of Chicano/Mexicano artists
and art in general, through CBA
projects and in cooperation with other
public and private agencies and organizations.
He named several projects in which
CBA has been, and is, involved.
Among them: several mural projects
on graffiti-covered walls around
seminars for educators on integrating
art, music, foreign languages and the
social sciences and a recently presented play called "Severed Roots."
CBA sponsored the New American
Poetry Festival last May, which featured writers such as Ken Kesey.
Quentin Tarrantino and Floyd Salas
     in addition to
"It's to remind us
that we should be
more conscious
of the homeless
and not just on
the days of giving/'
Jose Luis Barraza
Executive Director
of Centro Bellas
Artes
cated to helping troubled youth.
Centro Belles Artes which
Fine Arts Center, was founded in late
1984 to "broaden the reach and scope
of the Chicano/Mexicano culture in
the San Joaquin Valley, as well as offer local Chicano/Mexicano artists an
opportunity to express themselves
through the various arts." according
to CBA literature.
The center sponsors artistic, cultural
and historic events, often in conjunction with workshops and seminars,
through readings, films, lectures and
other visual and performing an events
throughout the year.
"Domltllla," a lithograph by Francisco Zuniga.
Courtesy illustration
The latest big event is the Francisco
Zuniga an exhibit. He is touted by
some as Mexico's leading artist.
Around 35 pieces, the largest collection of Zuniga's pieces ever assembled on the West Coast, according to Barraza. will be on display at
ihe modest Westside gallery' March 1
through April 15.
Most of the pieces have been loaned
to CBA by one of Zuniga's agents and
a friend. Jerry Brew sterol'Brewster's
Art Limited in New York City. The
remaining pieces are being loaned to
CBA by two Fresno families and the
Santa Fe An gallery of Madison. Wis.
Thc display will consist of a life-
sized, bronze sculpture of a seated Indian woman, six smaller statues (five
bronze and one of white onyx), seven
works on paper (charcoal, pencil and
pastel) and 21 lithographs.
Zuniga's works focus on women, said
Ernesto Palomino, a CSUF art teacher
and member of CBA. "But not as sex
objects — as nurturing and strong."
"He's definitely a classicist all the
way," hc said.
According to Palomino. Zuniga's
biggest artistic influences came from
Zuniga's father, a woodcarvcr in the
Santero tradition (i.e. carved wooden
statues of saints) and European artists
like Matisse. Degas and the early Romans and Greeks.
Palomino has been with CBA for
three years and served on the executive board last year. He is currently on
sabbatical from the organization.
However, he and Jesus Luna, a CSUF
history teacher, will be giving two lectures on Zuniga and Mexican an and
history in general on March 5 and 17.
Zuniga's works have won numerous
international awards and have been
displayed in an galleries and museums worldwide. Several pieces have
also been purchased for the permanent
collections of museums such as the
New York Museum of Modern An. the
Hanoke Open Air Museum in Japan
and thc Musee Middleheim in
Antwerp. Belgium.
Barraza estimated the collection
would be very valuable and said the
CBA has gone to great lengths to ensure its security. It has installed a new
alann system, hired security guards
and asked police to step up patrols
during the exhibit.
He said most of Zuniga's pieces "will
be for sale and expects thai an enthusiasts from around California will attend
the exhibit
The Zuniga exhibit will be open noon
to 5 p.m.Tuesday through Sunday. The
exhibit opens at 10 a.m. Saturdays.
Admission will be S2 for adults and
SI for seniors and children under 12.
Admission is free on Sundays.
For more information, please call
237-2783.
Fresno ordinances tame conflicts with animals
+As area grows, legal
system has been forced to
deal with pets & livestock
By Marlene Bryant
Staff Writer
Animals and urbanization often
don't mix. Many Fresno ordinances
exist to prevent possible problems that
animals or livestock may cause as the
city grows.
"Animals can be a health hazard."
said Lois Johnson, planner III of thc
Fresno City Development Department, planning division. "Too many
cows or other livestock can pollute
local wells. The cows urinate and release nitrates inlo ihe soil. With nitrates in the wells, drinking water becomes unsafe.
"Specific zones exisi just for animals, depending if they are livestock
or domestic." she said.
Also, she said some cultures, such
as the Southeast Asians, like lo keep
a couple of roosters on their property.
"In a residential area, this can cause
a problem because the fow Is eat grain,
which attracts rodenis. creating a public health hazard."
Fresno County ordinances slate lhat
it is unlawful for any person in the
county to sell, offer for sale, furnish,
barter or give away any baby chicks
or other baby fowl as pets, novelties,
attractions or prizes.
However, those provisions are not
construed to prohibit the display or
sale of chicks, baby rabbits, ducklings
or other baby fowl in proper facilities
by people, dealers, hatcheries or
stores regularly engaged in thc business of selling the animals to be raised
for food or breeding purposes.
The legal system can come down hard on violators of the city's animal ordinances. Unfortunately,
animals often suffer the adverse effects of legislative decisions.
Fresno's restrictions on animals
dates lo ihe beginning of the century.
In 1901. when Fresno wasjusi a speck
of dust on the map. a city ordinance
made it unlawful for any person owning or having pigeons, chickens,
ducks, geese, turkeys or other domestic fowl to allow them on any person's
property.
In 1903, a city ordinance stated that
an individual could not herd, drive,
tic or stake out any cow. bull, steer,
goat or sheep on public streets, sidewalks or alleys except to conduct the
animal in good faith and reasonable
speed. No animal was allowed within
the city limit for herding or grazing
except in transii through the city. The
line was S30 and/or 15 days in jail.
In 1916. a city ordinance forbade
leaving any horse, mule or other animal, bicycle, motorcycle, auto, buggy
or carriage in any Fresno street. Another staled that il was a misdemeanor
for any person to have in an alley or
slreet wiihin enclosure exposed to
view, any stallion, bull or jackass for
the purpose of exhibition or advertise
ment.
Currently, the Fresno Municipal
Code prohibits anyone from keeping
wild animals or bees within Fresno.
A section states that all enclosures
or premises where any animals or
fowls are kept shall be maintained in
a clean and sanitary condition, free
of obnoxious smells and substances.
No individual shall keep horses or
other animals, except dogs, within 35
feet of any building used for human
habitation, unless the building is occupied by the owner of the fowl or
animal.
In another section, city code states
that no one shall display, sell, offer for
sale, barter or give away as pets or
novelties any fish, turtle, snake, lizard, chameleon, baby alligator or other
reptile, bird, kitten, puppy, baby rabbit, guinea pig. rodent or other baby
animal. Baby is defined as less than 2
months of age.
Laws passed years ago still have
some relevance today.
"In thc '60s and [70s there were several ordinances that were passed pertaining to livestock." said Arida Taylor, legal assistant for Fresno Area
Code Enforcement. She said none had
been passed so far this year.
Livestock arc allowed in specific
residential zones labeled Rl-A. Such
areas are on the outskirts of Fresno
near Sunny side and Clovis where spacious areas of land exist. Most other
ordinances dealing with animals concern domestic pets.
How often must the animal ordinances be enforced?
'The department will enforce the law
if there is a complaint; however, a
complaint about livestock or other
animals seldom occurs," said Ron
Holts, officer of the Fresno Police
Department.
"Sometimes we get calls about barking dogs and the resident gets a warning. And livestock? Potbellied pigs arc
a concern in Fresno. People raise them
for food, religious purposes or just for
pets. It is estimated that there are thousands of them in Fresno," he said.
When an ordinance involving livestock or domestic animals is broken,
the individual is cited and must appear
See ORDINANCES, page 7
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Kennel Bookstore
Returning
students
get a hand
♦ Experience helps
give re-entry students
determination they
need to succeed
By Alison Whittaker
Staff Writer
Divorces, dead-end jobs or b;
sic desires for degrees are a few
motivations lhat bring older
dividuals back to school.
"When I graduated from high
school, I spent a year at junior
college and 15 years managing a
marriage and a family." said
Cheryl Henderson, a graduate
student.
"An end to my marriage and a
need to increase my income
brought me back for another year
at junior college and two years at
CSUF." Henderson said. She was
advised through thc Office of Rc-
"There is no longer
the stigma that if you
didn't graduate by
the time you were 23
or 24 you were out of
luck."
Angela R. Cisneros
Re-entry Coordinator
entry Programs on campus.
Henderson graduated in 1988
and received a journalism-pubjic
relations degree with a minor in
psychology. She is now the director of program development for
thc Hospital Council Foundation.
"My current assignment is to
coordinate outreach activities for
a state program — Access For Infant Mothers" in the 50 counties
of northern and central California. Henderson said.
The re-entry program serves as
a support system for adult students who are either just starting
thei r col lege educations or are returning to school to further their
scholastic experiences.
Students must be at least 25
years old to receive referrals and
advisement through the re-entry
program.
Older students come back to
school with definite goals and experience in the real world, according to Angela R. Cisneros.
coodinator of re-entry programs.
"They know that without a degree they may run into a deadend world without career advancement," she said.
Cisneros said that many
younger students are motivated
not only by education, but fun.
Most re-entry students are seeking career advancement and a
boost to their incomes.
"For me. as an adult going back
to school and a parent of three children, there were no such things as
A's. B's. C's. D's and F's,"
Henderson said. "I only strived for
A's because anything less might as
well have been an F."
Working in CSUF's re-entry
See REENTRY, page 10
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