Artist:	Richard Haro
Title:	God Blesses Everyone That Tries
Date:	2000
District:	First Supervisorial District
Location:	Ruben F. Salazar Park 3864 Whittier Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90023
Department:	Parks and Recreation

Dozens of famous Latino faces gaze down from an interior wall of the Senior Center at Ruben F. Salazar Park. They are part of a 20' h x 30' w mural by Richard Haro that covers a large triangular wall inside the Center.

At the top of the mural two cupped hands release colorful orbs that float throughout the mural, unifying the work. The center of the piece includes a cutaway that offers a glimpse of a fictional cosmic realm while children play on a strip of grass below. The predominant feature of this work is the over 30 portraits of famous and influential Latinos scattered on the right and left sides. Included among this group are boxer Oscar De La Hoya, Los Angeles newscaster Laura Diaz, pop singer Selena, musician Carlos Santana, actor Ricardo Montalbán, actor Edward James Olmos, labor leader César Chávez, actor Rodolfo Valentino, singer Ritchie Valens, filmmaker Gregory Nava, actress Carmen Zapata, and teacher James Escalante.

About the Artist: Raised in East Los Angeles, Richard Haro studied art at East Los Angeles College. Haro did most of his murals during the 1960s and 1970s including a 40-panel work at Sierra Park Elementary School and a piece at the Watts Towers Arts Center. He was also one of the first artists to exhibit at Goez Art Studio and Gallery. In more recent years Haro has painted portraits and taught art to the mentally disabled.