In the early 1970s, a Franciscan nun turned an East Los Angeles garage into a thriving cultural center that gave rise to some of the city's most successful Latino artists. Self Help Graphics & Art later moved into a 1920s-era building on Cesar Chavez Avenue that would become distinctive for its mosaic-covered facade.
Artists such as Gronk, Frank Romero and Barbara Carrasco exhibited their work and taught at the center. Sister Karen Boccalero, its founder, became a patron of the East L.A. art scene.
But more than 10 years after Boccalero died, her Franciscan order and the Los Angeles Archdiocese have sold the Self Help property to a private investment firm. The arts center may have until the end of the year to move from the site it has occupied since 1978.
"It's a huge loss for the community," said Patssi Valdez, a prominent artist of 30 years whose first exhibitions took place at Self Help Graphics & Art. "I'm hoping there will be something in the future that can replace it or compare to it."
Sister Carol Snyder said it became untenable to support a venture that did not make money. The center's budget plunged from $708,000 six years ago to $231,000 last year, relying mostly on sales from its renowned print shop after failing to secure government grants and corporate sponsorships.
Earlier this year, the Order of the Sisters of St. Francis, based in Redwood City, Calif., transferred the deed to the 15,000-square-foot building to the archdiocese and asked that it be sold.
"All these years, they've been rent free," Snyder said. "They've never been profitable, and they were no longer able to get grants. We were losing money and we had to loan them money periodically."
Snyder said Self Help had "functioned extremely well" while Boccalero was alive, but had gone downhill ever since. She said some proceeds from the sale would fund art scholarships in the community in honor of Boccalero.
"We don't feel like we're abandoning East L.A.," she said.
But Armando Duron, the art center's board president, said he has been fielding calls from concerned artists and community members. He said the Sisters of St. Francis' lawyer first informed him about the sale July 3 -- a day after escrow had closed.
"I told him I was very shocked and disappointed to hear they sold without telling us," Duron said. "I terminated the conversation by telling him, 'May God be with you.' "
