Chicano Artists: A History through Today

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) by joining the Library for a lecture celebrating Chicano art and artists. Julia Fister will lead attendees through a brief look at the history of Mexico, which helps to explain how the movement began and still continues to this day. She will take a look at the precursors to the modern Chicano artists, and then at the modern Chicano artists in San Diego’s Chicano Park and Los Angeles.

This program is presented by San Diego Oasis.

Julia Fister, a St. Louis, Missouri native, graduated from the University of North Carolina in Charlotte with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and from Fontbonne University in St. Louis with a Bachelor’s Degree in Art. After an early career in investment banking and several years as a graphic designer, she arrived at Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) as a volunteer after completing a Master’s Degree in Art History at San Diego State University. Fister was soon hired by OMA to create and direct an education program for 5th graders, later titled ArtQuest, and within six years, the program grew to serve over 7,000 students from Oceanside and the surrounding areas. Moving into the role of Director of Education at OMA, Fister oversaw ArtQuest and created a robust Education Department, serving both children and adults. During her 6 1/2 year tenure, she created a summer camp program, increased the Free Family Art Day attendance to over 5,000 family members a year from 600, revamped the museum’s docent program, increased the Artist Alliance from 15% to 25% of membership, created OMA’s first on-site art classroom, and was instrumental in developing and creating OMA’s first international traveling exhibition. Following OMA, Fister worked as an education specialist for the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, where she revamped and created new educational programming for the museum.