I was invited to create a piece about Cesar Chavez for an exhibition about him a number of years ago, at the short-lived Latino Museum of Art and History in Los Angeles.

What I wanted to emphasize about Don Cesar is the way he embodied a very different model of how to be a strong leader: not by threatening to harm his opponents (as most politicians do), but by showing what the suffering of his people looks like - by taking on, in an almost eucharistic fashion, their suffering.

I was aware that Cesar had a profound feeling for the Virgin of Guadalupe, and tha she gave him comfort during his many fasts, so I wanted to show that, too.

There is a traditional form for portraying the Virgin in conversation with the saints, known as "Sacra Conversazione." I wanted to create something more intimate here, so Guadalupe is holding and comforting Cesar as he fasts.

Link to a traditional image of Sacra Conversazione

Sacra Conversazione

by J Michael Walker, 2000 Color pencil on paper, 50" high x 40" wide Private collection

I had the good fortune of being permitted to use a photo of Cesar during one of his fasts, taken by his (and my) long-time friend Victor Aleman.

Link to Victor Aleman's website