The Austin Community College District’s Latino/Latin American Studies Center (El Centro) will dedicate a mural that traces the role and history of education for the Mexican-American community in East Austin, including the Montopolis and Del Valle areas. The event is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, September 15, at ACC’s Riverside Campus (1020 Grove Blvd.).

Artist Fidencio Durán created the five-panel mural commissioned by El Centro. Durán’s artwork appears in public and private collections in the United States and around the world.  One of his best-known works, “The Visit,” appears above the check-in counter at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

“My art is really about the idea that you can find beauty everywhere, that everybody’s life is significant in one form or another,” says Durán.

The dedication of the mural will feature the unveiling of the panels along with opportunities to hear from Durán and a community activist depicted in the artwork.

“This mural shows more than 100 years of Austin history and provides a representation of the development and educational opportunities to come,” says Dr. Mariano Díaz-Miranda, director of El Centro. “We are proud to showcase this integral part of our community’s past and celebrate the future.”

The dedication will include live entertainment and refreshments. Following the event, El Centro will display the mural at other ACC campuses; it will be permanently displayed at Riverside.

Mural exhibit schedule

September 15-October 7: Riverside Campus (1020 Grove Blvd.)

October 14-November 14: Cypress Creek Campus (1555 Cypress Creek Rd., Cedar Park)

November 21-December 31: Highland Business Center (5930 Middle Fiskville Rd.)

January 10-February 1: Rio Grande Campus (1212 Rio Grande St.)

February 6-27: Pinnacle Campus (7748 Hwy. 290 West)

March 1-23: Northridge Campus (11928 Stonehollow Dr.)

April 2-30: South Austin Campus (1820 W. Stassney Ln.)

El Centro is an inter-disciplinary, college-wide center supporting Latino and Mexican-American studies. It strives to increase understanding in the ACC and Central Texas communities of the culture, history, and contributions of Latinos.