Two Royal Chicano Air Force paintings that were vandalized last month are now back where they belong ?” hanging on display in the library, despite some rips and bent edges.

What hasn’t been damaged is the paintings’ historic significance ?” they represent an art movement that started at Sacramento State and merged with the Chicano rights effort.

“I am outraged and incensed as to what happened,” said Ricardo Favela, an associate professor of art and one of the three founding members of the organization. Favela owns the paintings that were vandalized.

One of the works was painted by Gilbert Lujan and depicts a Mayan driving a yellow Chevrolet decorated with Mayan art. A gun on top of the car is shooting flowers, not bullets. Favela said this painting demonstrates the peaceful nature of the organization.

The second painting was a promotion for a magazine and has an Aztec warrior and a Zuit-suiter holding up a pyramid with a Spanish slang word “AZLO,” meaning “hello.”

“It’s definitely very ethnic,” Favela said. “Anybody can look at it and know it.”

Both Leslie Rivers, the University Library Gallery assistant, and Favela said they believe this was a hate crime.

“It is unfortunate that racism is alive and well in California,” Favela said. “I spent all these years trying to get students – to understand that there is no difference (between people).”

The two paintings, which may not be able to be repaired, are part of a 75-painting collection that Favela described as being some of the organization’s best work.

“I want this case pursued,” Favela said. He said he plans on meeting with the library and Sac State President Alexander Gonzalez to make sure the vandalism incident isn’t ignored.

Police have made some progress in the investigation ?” they have questioned a man ?” but have not formally charged anyone with the crime. The investigation under is way and surveillance camera footage could help out. “(The surveillance video) was of value to us,” said Sgt. Kelly Clark of the University Police Department.

The pieces were vandalized during a Sac State student protest, where students were criticizing the congressional immigration bill.

The Plexiglas protection that will eventually help protect the paintings from future vandalism has not been bought yet, but the Library Gallery should be getting estimates soon, Rivers said.If the estimate for a full Plexiglas covering the entire display is affordable, that will be chosen. If not, the glass in the picture frames will be replaced with Plexiglas in the hope of barring any future destruction.

Favela said destroying an artist’s work is a form of censorship, and is even worse than racism for an artist. He said he believes anyone has the right to protest artwork, but it must be done peacefully and not by destroying the art. Speaking out against the artwork would be just fine, he said.

Favela teaches Art 148 ?” Barrio Art for Ethnic Groups. The class has been involved with the organization since its founding in 1969.

Both the organization and the barrio art class began when two professors, Jose Montoya and Esteban Villa, were hired in the late ’60s. Favela was a student living out of his car at the time.

The professors shared Kadema 193 as their office, and that was where the organization was born. Originally called the Rebel Chicano Art Front, the name was changed because the acronym was confused with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Members are even given wings similar to those worn by pilots, Favela said.

Montoya and Villa were hired, in large part, because of an uproar in the community to create a Chicano Studies major and hire more Chicano professors, Favela said. But because they did not have a classroom, they took students to the Washington Barrio, which is located where the American and Sacramento Rivers meet, and is the oldest Spanish neighborhood in Sacramento. The Chicano Studies program is now in its 36th year.

The organization had its heyday during the Chicanos’ struggle for equal rights in the ’70s. Favela attended a Caesar Chavez rally in Yuba City with Villa and his family. After finding out that Favela was living out of his car, Villa invited him to live with him. “I’ll never forget that. I’m obligated to him,” Favela said.

By the time Favela came to Sac State in the ’80s, much of the fervor for Chicano rights was dying out. Now, with the new immigration bill and Latino/Chicano rights issues being talked about more, the movement is seeing a rebirth.

The organization, with 11-13 core members, has produced hundreds of works of art, many of which are located at UC Santa Barbara, where there is a Chicano art major, masters and doctorate program. Up to 600 prints were donated to them in 1986, Favela said.

When asked if the organization still exists, Favela smiled and said, “We’re still alive and well.” A group of current Sac State students, called the Brown Syndicate, produce art to promote Chicano issues. There will be a gallery showing in Del Paso Heights on May 12. After that, many of those students will be receiving their wings.

Favela said he is adamant that Chicanos be treated equally. He does not want to see Chicanos trying to elevate themselves above anyone else.

Brandon Darnell can be reached at [email protected]