Gloria Favela Rocha Oral History

The following is an interview with San Diego artist Gloria Favela Rocha. Her upbringing as the daughter of immigrants, as a first generation Mexican-American, and living in farming communities inspires her artwork. Gloria is one of the five main artists working on the Anastasio Hernández Rojas mural in Chicano Park. She views Chicano Park as a place of spirituality and storytelling, and for her the mural is a piece of recorded history of struggle and hope for the future. This interview covers topics surrounding the importance of community, community healing, the power of artwork, effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the significance of the Anastasio Hernández Rojas mural in Chicano Park. The interview was conducted via Zoom in order to practice social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. The interview was conducted by Cristabel Otero Castaneda, a fourth year Cognitive Science-Design & Interaction major and Ethnic Studies minor who is interested in empowering communities of color, human-centered design, and the role of technology in society.