There are five different designs, based on photographs of real lowriders.
SAN DIEGO — The United States Postal Service unveiled its latest stamp series featuring a San Diego cultural icon – lowriders – at a ceremony held Friday morning outside the Logan Heights Library.
The stamp design emerged after USPS representatives contacted University of San Diego Department of Ethnic Studies Chair Alberto Pulido four years ago. Pulido’s extensive work in the field contributed to the project’s development. “We did a documentary, we did a book and we have a lowrider archive – and so representatives of the post office contacted me and started asking me questions and then next thing I knew they were talking about a stamp,” said Pulido.
USPS Art Director Antonio Alcalá designed the commemorative series with distinctive dimensions. The stamps measure one-third wider than typical commemoration stamps, allowing for greater descriptive detail. Five different designs based on photographs of actual lowriders comprise the series, with stamps available for purchase in sheets of 15.
The ceremony drew hundreds of attendees, including longtime lowrider enthusiast Santanera Naragero, who has devoted years to designing her own vehicle. The milestone prompted strong emotional reactions from attendees. “Never in a million years would I thought that – no,” said Naragero, expressing amazement at seeing a lowrider featured on a United States Postal Service stamp.
Vaughn Jeffery and his wife waited more than an hour in line to be among the first purchasers of the new stamps. “These guys deserve it – you just look at any of the cars – its art – its just art.”
The stamp series represents a significant cultural milestone for the lowrider community. “And while they were once criminalized for being a part of this community – now we celebrate it with a USPS stamp – that’s incredible!!” said San Diego mayor Todd Gloria at the ceremony.