Cordova Pintura

If you know anything about the Mission you know this picture. 

For decade(s) I have wondered why this painting was in El Farolito. When I learned about how al pastor was actually made, it made more sense. But still, a mystery was afoot. 

I was just in El Royal Cuckoo having a beer after work when the proprietor Deb (who also ran the greatly missed Way Out Cafe) brought the “taqueria paintings” up. “You will know them, I guarantee you.” She then showed me this site and my immediate reaction  was wtf WTF WTF. 

“He moved here (the Mission) in the ’60’s, and I remember him talking about it being very difficult to be here. He was a janitor but he had some relatives who helped him with a place to stay. One time I went to look for him, he had a studio at Valencia and 14th, in a parking lot, underground, just a little corner with all these cars in there. He had all his paint cans, and I said, “Hey Cordova, how can you paint in this place?” And he said, “It’s all right. In the morning everybody takes their cars and goes to work. By 11:00 am it is empty.” That was his studio. So at night he would go around to all the bars and see people.”

I am glad to have learned about Cordova. Wish I had sooner.