25’ x 125’, acrylic on stucco Mural Director: Directed by Susan Cervantes, Suaro Cervantes, Fredericko Alvarado and Elaine Chu in collaboration with the Latino/a Student Cultural Center and Northeastern University Students
This mural was designed by over 30 students and staff from the Latino/a Student Cultural Center at Northeastern University and painted by over 180 students and volunteers. The mural was directed by Susan Cervantes and her team of Precita Eyes muralists, Suaro Cervantes, Fred Alvarado and Elaine Chu.
The LSCC is one of the most welcoming and inclusive places on the campus, for many students it is their home away from home. People from all backgrounds and cultures have come into the LSCC and felt comfortable in the space to develop a relationship with it and the people in it. Two LaCLA (La Comunidad Latina en Accion) Scholars, Amy Lyu and Yoshua Rozen have been working on making this mural a reality for two years. This mural for the students represents every member of the LSCC. They are proud to share their identity and cultures painted united for everyone to enjoy as well as to beautify and make their building stand out on the campus. The main entrance of the building welcomes visitors with “Bienvenidos” surrounded by a vibrant growing flower design. The design was inspired by the Mola textile design which is a Kuna Indian Textile Art from the San Blas Islands of Panana. The four cardinal directions of North and South Americans are represented in the zipper pattern. Although the four directions mean many things to different cultures they all share common ground from the human to animal essences and the relations to Mother Earth and her elements.
Starting in the North direction where our Ancestors are present and who we give thanks to those who have come before us is represented by white. Our ancestors give us guidance and wisdom. Onto the west direction of the Grandmother/Mother and Female earthly essences coincide to the color black. The west also represents the inner vision, reflection, soul searching and endings. The South direction is that of the Youth, healing, growing and vigor that is represented by the color yellow. The East represented by the color Red means new beginnings, new awareness and dawn.
To the left of the front door is the globe, which is an expansion of the LSCC logo with the ribbon of the flags of the Americas wrapping around it. The flags then carry around the building to flow into the different elements of the mural. The flags tell the story of the student’s backgrounds, cultures, where they come from, where their ancestors came from and the courage they exhibited and the sacrifices they made to make a life and future here. As an under- represented community on the campus the flags are a welcoming gesture for students that identify as Latinx. For the students the flags are an important symbol of honoring the indigenous communities that is rooted in valuing their ancestors. Within the Latinx community they honor and pay homage to the sacrifices, and adversity of their indigenous ancestors. One student wrote, “We are rooted in the values of love, growth, paz, unity, amor and as we continue to grow we rise together.”
The mural wraps around the entire LSCC building. The composition has many elements that flow through each other tied by the different flags of the Americas which include the Pan- African Flag, Canada and the Native American Flag. The mural on the far left in the back of the building is a large Andean dancer. He is dancing the Danza de Tijeras or Scissor Dance, which has been performed since the 1500s. The dance is a vibrant ritualized presentation that may be performed in both sacred and secular spaces. The dancers are children of the Wamani, the mountain spirit. In the corner of the building stands a tall fruitful tree. The hand in the center of the tree symbolizes the strength of the student community and is also part of the Los Huskies Coalition logo. Their strength of the community as one and to overcome adversity together. The heart is also symbolic of the students who are the heart and soul of the community at the university. The fruit in the tree represent the students of the LSCC center and their diversity. Under the tree are students sharing food and enjoying each other’s company. They sit on top of a rug that that represents the world. The tree roots grow out from the center adorned with words and phrases that are inspirational and commonly used. They are in both English and Spanish.
To the right of the Tree is a dancing couple. Dance is a huge part of being part of the Latinx community. Dance is a form of expression. The rhythm of the Tambour describes the beautiful essence of the Latino family. Women and men stand together in an alliance that radiates strength in a world of peace and acceptance, which is represented by the dancing couple. The woman’s dress is a rainbow color spectrum of different traditional dresses from many Latin countries. Her dress represents the diversity of the Latinx community and people.
The dancer’s dress connects to a frame that is an original architectural element of the building. In each section of the frame are different fruits and vegetables in a Mola design. The farm worker is honored in the frame and he represents the past that is defined by the hard labor and planting of seeds that will lead to a fruitful future. He also represents the Latino immigrant farm workers that are a part of American history, the work of Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta and the United Farm Workers that have fought to protect migrant farm worker’s rights.
The birth mother nurturing a child symbolizes the love within the Latinx community. The wings represent migration, inspired by the monarch butterfly, and the journey that people travel to get here. The journey also shares the community’s interconnectedness and the values that have been rooted in traditions and love. The water coming from the birth mother, is irrigating the field and the roots that the farmer is working on.
Machu Picchu and the The Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan (the largest ancient structure in the Americas) represent two famous landmarks that have streams going between them. The streams directly correlate with the quote on the mural, “We are all Streams Leading to the Same River/ Todos Somos Arroyos Del Mismo Rio” An Aztec sun connects the two monuments at the corner as a golden welcoming beacon of light to all the students at Northeastern University.
A Northeastern University student wrote: “We are a large, proud, and vibrant community, proud of who we are. La comunidad amada es el marco para el futuro (the beloved community is the framework for the future). We are dedicated to the advancement of our culture and the preservation of our identity.”
47’ x 275’, acrylic on stucco Mural Director: Susan Cervantes, Max Marttila, Yukako Ezoe in collaboration with the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation and Tenderloin Community Funding: The project was awarded a Community Challenge Grant. Location: 272 McAllister Street, San Francisco CA. West wall of the MacAllister Hotel, which overlooks the Tenderloin People’s Garden at MacAllister and Larkin Streets.
Precita Eyes Muralists (Precita Eyes) and the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC) is collaborating on a monumental mural project above TNDC’s Tenderloin Peoples Garden. The project was awarded a Community Challenge Grant. Precita Eyes will direct the community mural Project, involving staff from TNDC, volunteers from the Tenderloin People’s Garden, local residents, and artists from the Tenderloin Artists Collaborative. Through a community mural work lead by Precita Eyes’ in March 2016, the community members developed themes, drew out their ideas and a composite sketch of everyone’s ideas. The muralists developed their design in scale for the mural 47’ high by 25’ for the west wall of the MacAllister Hotel, which overlooks the Tenderloin People’s Garden at MacAllister and Larkin Streets.
Mural Title: GROWING TOGETHER “Growing Together” is a community mural about the Tenderloin People’s Garden, the gardeners and residents who take care of the garden, and contribute to the surrounding community. Inspired by their own concepts and dreams, it is designed to celebrate pride in their hard work and dedication as well as to promote more consciousness of the garden as a positive tool to sustain a healthy and vibrant community.
The main visual element is the Gateway to the Tenderloin, greeting people to the neighborhood and the garden. The gateway pillars are made up of two monumental gardeners, a woman holding a shovel and a man holding a bunch of beets from the garden. The cityscape at the top of the rainbow colored archway is inspired by a collection of Tenderloin architecture, including the Hibernia Bank, the Alhambra Apartments at 860 Geary, and other locations. The words Tenderloin People’s Garden is spelled out in fine bold lettering with vines and other vegetation around them. A dove flies in the bright blue sky above the arch, while below is a sunrise of warm colored San Francisco fog, signifying the early morning when gardeners come to work. The lower center depicts a pair of hands holding up the Tenderloin People’s Garden within a warm heart while it is tended to by community gardeners. To the right is a child offering produce to an elder and beside them grows a bright sunflower. Princess flowers grace the bottom left corner below a resident playing a guitar. The guitar music of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” transforms from musical notes into native birds, into kale, spinach and other green vegetables. This flow continues into a giant spiral of water symbolizing the cycle of life, spinning a colorful spectrum of healthy fruits and vegetables. Inside of the spiral is a boat carrying people with their hands up receiving the harvest. The boat symbolizes the many journeys people and their families have taken from different countries and places before they arrived at their home in the Tenderloin.
54’ x 10’, acrylic on stucco 79’ x 10’, acrylic on stucco Mural Director: Susan Kelk Cervantes, Fred Alvarado and Suaro Luis Cervantes. Guest artists: Michael Roman and Vanessa “Agana” Espinoza Location: Jessie Square Plaza, San Francisco, CA
Description:
There are two walls separated by a large space to the garage The wall approximately 54’ x 10’ is set back at least 12’ apart from the second wall at Mission Street 79’ x 10’ . The barricade walls face Jessie Square Plaza. The design includes a pattern of Mexican motifs inspired by Mexican American silkscreen artist Michael Roman who lives in the Mission. In the foreground iconic images from the Mexican Museum collection and other Mexican American artists are represented. The Michael Roman silkscreen motifs are integrated into each of the monumental images in the foreground.
On the mural wall to the far left nearest the Contemporary Jewish Museum from right to left is a reproduction of a silkscreen image by Galeria de la Raza’s late co -founder Ralph Maradiaga of the Huichol Sun God, next Michael Roman’s Virgen of Gualdalupe and the iconic images of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera by Chicano artist, Rupert Garcia, at the end a detail of an indigenous inspired Blue Jaquar by Sal Garcia , a Mexican artist whose work is also in the Mexican Museum collection. On the Mission Street wall starting right to left is the popular phrase Mano y Mano (Hand to Hand) next to a portrait of the founder of the Mexican Museum, Peter Rodriguez, then a representation of a Mexican master painter, of a Mother and Child titled Madre “Juchiteca Madre” (Juchitecan Mother) by Francisco Zuniga, a detail of a Nopal Cactus derived from the relief construction by Chicano artist (?) , a detail from a painted street scene by Frank Romero, all from the Mexican Museum collection. At the end of this wall is a design inspired by an original print depicting the sacred heart and “maiz” (corn) by Vanessa “Agana” Espinosa who is an emerging Latina street artist.
The border that frames the mural includes a repeating “Ometiotl” the Mixteca symbol of duality, alternating sun and mirror symbols of the Nahual, and images of fish, owls, birds, fruit and flowers created by some of the students from Bessie Carmichael Elementary School in response to the images from the Mexican Museum collection.
9’ x 16’ x 24’, acrylic on stucco Mural Director: Elaine Chu, Assisted by Priya Handa, In collaboration with: Cayuga Improvement Association Funding: Parks and Recreation Location: 301 Naglee St, San Francisco CA 94111
Description:
This mural is the first community mural in the Cayuga Stairway. The mural represents the multi-cultural diversity of the neighborhood as well as the natural beauty of the area. The central focus of the mural is a Chinese Fan. There is a large growing Chinese community in Cayuga and the woman practice their fan dancing in the Cayuga Park. In the fan are different flowers that used to be grown and sold in the neighborhood, Roses, Carnations, and Hydrangeas. The trees in the background of the mural are Cherry, Plum and Cypress Trees. The nature in the background is a calming welcome to the Cayuga Neighborhood and the neighborly feel of the community. Everyone knows and supports one another. Demi Braceros is depicted in the mural, he is an important figure of the community not only as the gardener of the Cayuga Playground but also as the prolific sculptor that created 100s of wooden sculptures all over the park in the past 20 years. The Cayuga area also has a creek that runs through it and that is depicted in the mural flowing under the hand holding the fan. In the ripples of the creek are images painted by the community from small children to grandparents. The images represent memories and different stories that are carried through time by the water. Handprints from small children in the community adorn the bottom of the mural.
Acrylic on stucco Leading Design Artists: Max Marttila, Eli Lippert, Fred Alvarado, Dno Deladingo, Suaro Cervantes Location: Top of Bernal Hill, San Francisco, CA
Description:
The initial concept of this project was inspired by the building’s natural surroundings, and its alignment with the cardinal directions, corresponding to the Ohlone (Aboriginal peoples of the greater Bay Area) medicine wheel. The four colors of the wheel represent all our relations, and declare peace for each other and the creatures found in the wild. Because it is a telecommunications tower, included are crystal mineral formations and geometric shapes to compliment ground built from surrounding native plants and trees. The brief descriptions to follow reflects the properties and essences of each cardinal direction, which serves as the base color for each wall.
Yellow- East; Represents the male energy and direction of the rising sun and fire. Animals present are the San Francisco Garter Snake and the Tule Elk.
Black- West; Also known as the direction of the feminine aspects seen as turtle, the continent known as Turtle Island stretching from North to South America. The word Tonantzin seen in the sky means Mother Earth in Nahuatl, the ancient language of the Mexica. Also important are the sacred waters and relationship with Metzli (The Moon), the death of one day (represented by the Flicker bird) leading to the next along with a pair of Great Blue Herons. The Lotus Flower and Native sage are also visualized.
Red- South; Held by the youth, essence of will and discipline, symbolized by the hummingbird. The wild curiosity of the Raccoon’s and Coyote’s trickster spirit is ever present in our modern day environment. The Black Widow web represents our collective web and security on the far left side connecting to an abstract version of native mother bird nesting.
White- North; The north side serves as an homage to our past, present and future relations and the word ancestors is read within the wings of a Golden Eagle with silhouetted figures underneath enjoying the sights and tranquility of Bernal Heights.
9-16’ x 95’, acrylic on stucco Mural Director: Designed and painted by Jon Weiss and assisted by Eli Lippert and Suaro Cervantes Location: Gus's Community Market, 2111 Harrison Street, San Francisco CA
12’ x 12’, acrylic Mural Director: Fred Alvarado, Suaro Cervantes, Marina Perez- Wong, Max Allbee Location: The Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Description:
“And The Earth Did Not Swallow Them” is the title of a temporary mural painted at the James T Gallery in the City University of New York’s Graduate Center. The title is lifted from Tomas Rivera’s book entitled Ey No Se Lo Trago La Tierra”. The book tells the tale of an immigrant farm working family in the 1950’s United States. While the book dealt with the issues and concerns of that time, the book’s title and story reminds one that although marginalized and almost forgotten, the memories live on or like a saying coming out of Mexico in 2014 regarding the disappearance of 43 student teachers in Ayotzinapa, they tried to bury us but they did not know that we were seeds. This holds true to victims of police terror, displacement, and genocide in San Francisco, New York, and the world. Through our activism and search for justice the memories of past injustices serve as fuel for contemporary and future generations in the fight for balance, equity, justice, and the decolonization of the mind and body. The iconography of the mural, starting from the top to the bottom, is made up of portraits of Trayvon Martin and Alex Nieto, two of the many victims of police violence in the United States. Trayvon and Alex are holding their arms up as a reference to the popular protest movements of Black Lives Matter, Brown Lives Matter, and All Lives Matter. A b-girl holding a breakdancing pose on the top of the turtle shows hope in creativity and freedom of expression. On either side of the turtle, architecture and signs playfully engage the issue of gentrification effecting neighborhoods on the East and West coast. The central image of the mural, a turtle, is a symbol of Earth and specifically North America, a reference to The term Turtle Island, universally used as a name for North America by it’s Native people. The turtle is a symbol of the Earth living, moving, breathing and supporting, a reminder of the connectedness of the living planet and our effects on it. ”Presente” is included as a word play on a popular chant remembering those who have passed, as in “Those we have lost are Present”. The mural includes an indigenous women from Guatemala riding a bicycle rigged up with a people powered blender and record player. She is a symbol of the intrinsic and necessary force of femininity, healthy living, and love, an attempt at providing solutions to our movement forward. A movement of solidarity that includes the memories of our ancestors and the present day inclusion of our great, wonderful, and diverse cultures.
10’ x 15’, acrylic on stucco Mural Director: Directed by Susan Cervantes, Elaine Chu, Yukako Ezoe and assisted by Suaro Cervantes in collaboration with the staff and patients of SFGH Psychiatric Dept. Location: SFGH Psychiatric Dept. 7th floor, SF CA
DESCRiption
The three mural designs are community designed with the San Francisco General Hospital staff and psychiatric patients. The mural sites are located on the 7th floor out door patio. Each mural is 10’ x 15’. Title: “ Recovery, Wellness to Health” Mural #1 RECOVERY (next to the basketball court) Sky theme, color light blue In the foreground center of the mural is a diverse group of four patients from SFGH enjoying the music and company in a drum circle. The patients play in a drum circle often outside on the patio at SFGH. The rainbow behind the drum circle players creates a central arc of color that represents diversity and the LGBT population. In the different bands of color are music notes and a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt- “ With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts” In the top center of the mural is a vibrant colorful Phoenix kite soaring into the sky. The phoenix kite story is told in three stages. First a man finds the kite with a broken wing, he then is shown mending it and last he is running holding the kite and happily flying it while it flies higher in the sky. This story represents recovery and hope. Showing patients that there is hope in fixing something that is once thought to be broken. We would like the patients to look at this scene and see that there is hope for them too to feel better and recover. On the far right of the mural are two people playing soccer and one kicking the ball to make a goal. Many of the patients like sports and this mural will be behind the basketball court. A big part of recovery is exercise and fresh air. Keeping active and playing games with one another will promote community, friendships and exercise. The symbol on the top far right is a design drawn by a patient and it represents the sun. In the rings of the sun is Hope in English, Spanish, Chinese and Arabic. We have also placed the word Faith in different languages in the drums of the drum circle. Mural #2 WELLNESS (next to the Labyrinth) Earth theme, color green The drawing on the left has an overall coloration of green to represent the lushness on earth. In the center of the design a large heart is emanating a soft glow. It is lifted by the energy of love and joy of the people, who is holding hands forming a circle. As part of the dance circle there is a singing-girl with butterflies flying out like musical notes. All of their nationality ranges to show diversity. The earth is their stage, and its edge is surrounded by iconic land marks in multiple countries: Pyramid in Egypt, Mount McKinley in America, a pyramid in Mexico, and Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal in India, and Eiffel Tower of Paris. The bottom half of the earth has a house with a bountiful garden to indicate a healthy sustainable living. On the left, a caterpillar is feeding on the lavender. It transforms into a monarch butterfly, then flutters gracefully into the sky. This represents the metamorphosis of life. Behind the flowers above is a rainbow arching gradually to the large tree on the right. The leaves change color from red, yellow, orange to green to symbolize the seasons. The rainbow is also symbolic of the LGBT community. This mural panel represents 'Wellness”. The word 'Well' is highlighted. The children playing with the swing under the tree enjoying the beginning of the day in the morning sun. From the horizon line, a path way is followed by Martin Luther King Jr.'s quote, 'Faith is taking the first step even when you can't see the whole stair case.' Mural #3 HEALTH (next to the picnic tables) Water theme, color deep blue The mural design focuses on the health and well being of all people who have healed and become well represented by a fantastic underwater scene of a school of multicolored fish moving upward in a spiral to the light at the surface of thedeep blue water. In the center is a spirited sailboat with a family witnessing this beautiful event. The sail on the boat reflects a sunset that one would see on the surface. To the right is a large sea kelp rising up with a dolphin coming up from behind it. At the bottom is a picnic table on the beach with food from different parts of the world offered to the observers of the underwater event. To the right of the beach is a pelican on the rocks with a message in his beak with the word “strength” in Chinese Mandarin. The word strength is also written on the school of fish in Spanish, English and Arabic. Included under the school of fish is a quote from Confucious “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but rising every time we fall”.
10’ x 80’, acrylic on stucco Mural Director: Fred Alvarado and Max Martilla in collaboration with families and youth
Description:
The Minnie and Lovie Ward Recreational Center Mural Project is a sports themed mural . It was developed over two community drawing workshops where participants where asked to list images and ideas for the mural. The images depict sports and activities played at the park such as soccer, basketball, football, ping pong and baseball. The mural also illustrates the community and the great centers of higher learning around the area like, San Francisco State and The City College of San Francisco. The mural shares the theme of outer space which symbolizes the communities hopes of achieving and accomplishing. Symbols such as the star, which is a reference to a local business started by youth from the community, reflects how the community can shine in different states, be it academics, athletics, or economics. An over arching idea for this project is to convey the idea of Play, Run, and Have Fun, following the belief that a healthy community is active, engaged and participating to make a better community.
3.5’ x 14’, acrylic on stucco 3.5’ x 12’, acrylic on stucco Mural Director: Yukako Ezoe Location: 3781 23rd St, San Francisco, CA 94114 Funded by:Mission Beacon Center
Description:
The mural consist similar height iris flowers, descending along the house’s façade parallel to the sidewalk, and continues by wrapping around the staircase. The irisis are influenced by a Japanese National Treasure created by an edo period artist, ogata korin’s Ukioe print, Kakitsubata Zu (Irisis).
Three murals: 5’ x 9’, acrylic on tyvek 10’ x 10’, acrylic on a vinyl pop up canopy structure Mural Director: Yukako Ezoe and Elaine Chu in collaboration with the San Francisco Public Library, Faithful Fools Ministry and the Tenderloin Community. Location: 100 Larkin St, SF CA
12’ x 24’, acrylic on stucco Mural Director: Susan Cervantes, Suaro Cervantes and Fred Alvarado Location: Potrero Hill Health Center 1050 Wisconsin St. SF, CA
Description:
The Bridge Housing Community Mural Project at the Potrero Hill Health Center guided by Precita Eyes Muralists is designed by 27 participants including children and youth whose themes for the mural includes the celebration and spirit of the community and the people who live there. Main Mural Wall On the left side of the design the story of the mural centers around the children getting on the school bus dreaming of their future graduation. To their right is the Walking School Bus taking children to Starr King and Daniel Webster Elementary Schools passing by the Potrero Hill Community Garden. In the background is the NABE, a neighborhood cultural center, where a hill rises revealing a curved path of life starting from the old oak tree where many inspiring quotes are written of remembrance, peace, tolerance and diversity. At the top of this hill is an “all seeing eye” of hope and respect. A red tailed hawk carries the path of life towards the sun. In the foreground are maguey cactus, a canna flower and hummingbird, California poppies, sunflowers and nopal cactus. Behind the sunflowers is a pregnant woman practicing the “tree pose” with nurturing hands in a circle around her representing the 5 elements of fire, water, earth, wood and metal, the foundation for good health ad balance. Around the mural is a border framing the mural with names of community heroes. Lower Wall The lower wall is covered with large ladybugs decorated with community hands. Upper wall (Far right) A banner with the names of the Potrero Hill Health Center in English, Spanish and Chinese. A heart frames the banner with a peace sign on the left and a heart in rainbow colors on the right.
7.5’ x 15’, acrylic on stucco Mural Director: Cory Devereaux with Linda D’Avirro, Ashley Davenport, The Leong Family Location: Fair Oaks Health Center , 2710 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA
Description
.Donated by the Employees of the fair Oaks Health Center. “Health Is…” represents ways some of the many ways that people can choose to live a more active life, one filled with nutritious foods, educational opportunities, and an environment that promotes physical well being, a vibrant spirit, and a positive future. Through its imagery, the mural also communicates the interchange between the Fair Oaks Health Center and the communities it serves. The Health Center provides services to the immediate neighborhood and to residents throughout the county. At the same time, the Center benefits from the diversity of its clients, the culture that they bring, and the experiences that they share. The Fair Oaks Health Center is like the peppercorn tree in the center of the mural. Its branches reach up to the sky and to the sun for nourishment, and as it receives it also gives to others. On the left side of the mural, we see service oriented images: a health-care professional offers comfort to an aging patient, a lively baby reaches for the doctor’s stethoscope, a family learns how to care for its newborn. Cradled in the branches on the right side of the mural, we find scenes depicting the value of achieving an education. A daughter shares a happy graduation moment with her proud father. School children learn the importance of eating fruits, vegetables, and fiber, and they foster the concept that good health is ageless. Below these vignettes, we find the ideal place to live, work, and play. The environment of the future is innovative, clean, green, and accessible to all. Here everyone can exercise, even the surgeon (or doctor or nurse) who bikes to work. There is wheelchair soccer, and couples stroll the tree-lined path. Shops and restaurants are plentiful. Water flows, and naturally there is a farmers’ market where residents and visitors can find fresh produce along with the bounty of the land and sea. Like the trunk of the tree, the Health Center is sturdy and strong. At its core shines the flame that welcomes all who come to it. Its branches extend far and wide, and its roots are grounded deep into the community. From all parts of the tree flows hope. Hope and caring wrap themselves around all races, ages and creeds, and unite people with ribbons made, just as they are, from all the world’s colors. Their message spills into the golden border and proclaims in many languages. “Health is.”
Acrylic on stucco Mural Director: Susan Cervantes and renowned Poet Jorge Tetl Argueta Location: Project Artaud fence on 17th st between Alabama and Florida Streets
Description:
Precita Eyes Master Muralist Susan Cervantes and renowned Poet Jorge Tetl Argueta conduct a 10 week workshop with Artists and Writers called the Bean Soup Literary Mural Project. The workshops are 10 weeks of hands on writing and mural painting where you can express your creative writing ideas into a community mural painting on 23rd Street.
8’ x 25’, acrylic on tyvek Mural Director: Cory Devereaux and Ariana Terrence Location: Senior Access, 70 Skyview Terrace, Bldg. B, San Rafael, CA
Description:
SENIOR ACCESS LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE MURAL ART PROJECT SAN RAFAEL, CA – Senior Access, an innovative club that provides expressive arts, entertainment and personal care to persons with memory loss and respite for families, announces a new art initiative, “Reflections: the Dementia Experience.” This latest endeavor is an ambitious project in collaboration with Precita Eyes Muralists. It will engage Club members in creating a mural that will be a reflection of their lives and their connection to our community. Precita Eyes artists will explore club member’s personal lives and experiences and work with them to translate their shifting dementia experience into a 5’x25’ travelling mural which will be displayed in public exhibit spaces celebrating Senior Access’ 40th anniversary. “A mural is a bridge to the community,” says Susan Cervantes, founder and principal artist of Precita Eyes Muralists. “The result is a reflection of a community.” Creating the mural is an experience that encourages self-expression while building a unifying experience of positive social interaction through collaboration and meaningful work. “The mural project incorporates many of our best efforts at The Club at Senior Access,” says Cris Chater, Executive Director. “Everyone thrives in an environment that fosters creativity and fellowship. This is especially true for people living with memory loss. Senior Access creates an environment of acceptance and understanding for families living with dementia. Club members are proud of the art they create. The mural will remind us that persons with dementia are valued and talented members of our community.” Dottie was a stage actress and spent most of her life on stage. . she is drawing herself on stage with the audience in front of her. Senior Access is Dottie’s only socialization (other than at home with her son and daughter in law) and she sleeps most of her time at home. Although Senior Access presents a hardship for her adult children (they both have full time jobs) her daughter-in-law’s comment was: “Everyone deserves a life and Dottie’s life is here.”
