Mural by Alum Juan Fuentes in Watsonville Honors Farmworkers

GOOD TIMES (SANTA CRUZ) -- Fuentes, whose family still lives in Watsonville, was one of 11 children and much of his family were field workers. He was the first in his family to attend college after graduating from Watsonville High School in 1969. He discovered his love for art once he had transferred to San Francisco State, working his way through school and into the art world.

Crocetti praised Fuentes’ strong lines and the visual impact of his work.

“It’s stunning,” she said. “I saw his work long before I knew his background … I knew it would translate well into a mosaic.”