Community Murals
Time Lapse of mural creative process
courtesy Georgetown Heritage Center
Georgetown, CO
courtesy Georgetown Heritage Center
Georgetown, CO
Community Mural Statement:
For over 25 years, I have work with schools, health clinics, community organizations, art spaces and museums to create murals. The creation of community murals has further developed and enact my philosophical belief that art belongs to everyone, not just the wealthy, art galleries and museums. Community murals are not created for “art’s sake”, but rather give a community the skills and voice necessary to maintain this art form. The mural process encourages participants of different ages and socioeconomic backgrounds to collaborate, develop friendships, and learn from each other while developing their art skills. The creation of many of the murals I have guided on has included groups of people highly diverse in terms of race, gender, age, and level of artistic competency.
I believe that the people involved in the painting process feel an ownership to the mural and are proud of their work. Participants enjoy bringing their friends, family members, etc. to show them what they’ve contributed to the mural painting process. Murals can espouse a community’s views history, political views, family values, cultural pride, or historic events. The mural reflects the needs, hopes and dreams of the community who creates them. They are part of a community arts movement which emerges as an alternative art education program by ordinary people as they reach out to their community.
For over 25 years, I have work with schools, health clinics, community organizations, art spaces and museums to create murals. The creation of community murals has further developed and enact my philosophical belief that art belongs to everyone, not just the wealthy, art galleries and museums. Community murals are not created for “art’s sake”, but rather give a community the skills and voice necessary to maintain this art form. The mural process encourages participants of different ages and socioeconomic backgrounds to collaborate, develop friendships, and learn from each other while developing their art skills. The creation of many of the murals I have guided on has included groups of people highly diverse in terms of race, gender, age, and level of artistic competency.
I believe that the people involved in the painting process feel an ownership to the mural and are proud of their work. Participants enjoy bringing their friends, family members, etc. to show them what they’ve contributed to the mural painting process. Murals can espouse a community’s views history, political views, family values, cultural pride, or historic events. The mural reflects the needs, hopes and dreams of the community who creates them. They are part of a community arts movement which emerges as an alternative art education program by ordinary people as they reach out to their community.
Slide show of community murals:
Interview and time lapse of community mural process
Courtesy Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Courtesy Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
| salud_mural_brighton_co_may_2012.pdf |
The artist retains copyright to the images displayed on this Web site. They may be used for non-commercial purposes if credit is given to the artist. For commercial purposes, please contact Tony Ortega for permission to reproduce, publicly display, copy, distribute or otherwise use such images.