Students and faculty at Cal State San Bernardino have joined with the University of California Riverside and Citrus State Historic Park in Riverside to research and interpret stories about the area's citrus history in ways that are relevant to inland Southern California's diverse communities.
The ongoing results of the two-year Relevancy and History Pilot Program will be available to the public at the Sweet N Sour Community Festival, Saturday, May 6, 1 to 4 p.m. at California Citrus State Historic Park, 9400 Dufferin Ave., Riverside.
CSUSB public history students have been doing research under the direction of Cherstin Lyon, associate professor of history, in local archives and libraries. Graduate students Amanda Castro and Gregory Gallegos in CSUSB's Social Science and Globalization program, along with public history/American studies student Angela Tate, have also been working with Lyon to assist Citrus State Historic Park with research, community and visitor surveys, and community outreach.
Castro, who is coordinating CSUSB student researchers, has spearheaded a year-long survey of community members and park visitors.
'The Sweet N Sour Community Festival will be fun for families, and will allow them to see a side of Citrus State Park they may have never seen before,' Castro said. 'Come out and see the beauty of Citrus State Historic Park and enjoy an afternoon with the family.'
The festival will feature the unveiling of art installations, including a series of outdoor photo-murals, alternative “trail markers,” and a museum display – all under the title “Manos, Espaldas, y Blossoms” (“Hands, Back and Blossoms”) – collaboratively created by CSUSB professors Juan Delgado (English) and Thomas McGovern (art); a set of two larger-than-life-sized stereo viewers set in the groves by artist Arnold Martin; and an installation of the photo series “Sour Puss,” which documents the tasting experiences of visitors who participated in February and March events, captured by artist and UCR alumna Kate Alexandrite.
The event also includes Cahuilla bird singers, Mexican folk music and dance with the son jarocho group Conjunto Tenocelomeh (which also includes UCR graduate student Alan Malfóvan), children’s cartonera book making (do-it-yourself art using recycled materials) and citrus crate label design, citrus tastings, and community groups hosting cultural activities. UCR students will conduct tours based on their research.
The two-year Relevancy and History Pilot Program is part of the State Parks Transformation Initiative that began in 2015 and builds upon key findings by the National Park Service in its 2011 report “Imperiled Promise.” The report made nearly 100 recommendations to, among other things, correct a “misperception of history as a tightly bounded, single and unchanging ‘accurate’ story, with one true significance, rather than an ongoing discovery process in which narratives change over time as generations develop new questions and concerns, and multiple perspectives are explored.”
Admission is free and open to the public. Parking is $5 per vehicle.
For information visit the Sweet N Sour website, or or contact Cathy Gudis of UCR, project director, at cagudis@ucr.edu.