By SDCN Staff
San Diego, CA–In a celebration of historic Chicano culture, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has partnered with the San Diego Public Library to unveil their new Lowriders Forever stamp in a “first day of issue” dedication ceremony at the Logan Heights Library.
“First day of issue” ceremonies were held by USPS to mark the official date that a new stamp becomes publicly available. Dr. Alberto López Pulido, founding chair of the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of San Diego, partnered with USPS to select the Logan Heights Library as the location to host the ceremony due to the community’s cultural and historical significance.
Dignitaries attending the ceremony were San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, CA Assemblymember David Alvarez, Vivian Moreno, San Diego City Councilmember, District 8, Gary Barksdale, Chief Postal Inspector, USPS, and Misty Jones, Director, San Diego Public Library.
“Chicano culture is an essential part of San Diego’s history and identity,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “I’m proud that USPS chose our city to unveil these stamps honoring lowrider culture, a powerful expression of art, identity, and community that has shaped our region for generations.”
Designed by USPS art director Antonio Alcalá, the stamps are one-third wider than a typical commemoration stamp size to allow for as much descriptive detail as possible. Alcalá based the designs on photographs of five lowriders, with Los Angeles-based lowrider artist Danny Alvarado adding custom pinstriping. In all, five new stamps will be available for purchase in sheets of 15.
The community was invited to attend the event which included lowriders, a high school mariachi band, food trucks, and children’s arts and crafts.
