Peace and Remembrance

Location: February 24th, 2001

Mural Dimension: 40’ X 20’

Lead Artists: Crystal Torres, Angela Ybarra, Julie Ibarra, Katie Bone

Facilitators:  Patti Radle, Claudio Aguillon

Blessing and dedication date: February 24th, 2001

Description of Mural: This mural is dedicated to people of the immediate community who have been victims of violence. It was designed by an all-women crew of four artists - one was twelve and three were thirteen. The names of the victims are on the wall and the wall serves as a functional altar for the surrounding community.  Flower holders are mounted onto the wall so that residents are able to remember and memorialize loved ones.
Several years back, after the violent deaths of Charles “Chucky” Hernandez, neighborhood teens sprayed painted a mural on this same wall, in loving memory to Chucky. After a year, that mural was painted over.  The neighborhood wanted to continue the memory of Chucky and others who have died of violence in this barrio but the goal was to do it by presenting an image that would make people think of the idea of peace when confronted with violence.  The crew thought of happy scenes: the park, friends who support one another, religious symbols that give us strength, the idea of Our Lady of Guadalupe being active in our lives. The ideas came together in the mural you see today.