Piedad

Location:  Colorado and Buena Vista St.

Mural Dimension: 45’ X 15'

Lead Artist: Ruth Buentello

Partners / Collaborators: National Association of Latin Arts and Culture / La Familia Juárez

Blessing and dedication: November 22, 2003

Description of Mural: This mural is about seeing the parallels between the time of Christ and the present. It is a contemporary depiction of christ’s crucifixion. Christ was persecuted for voicing his beliefs. Today many are judged, thrown into jail or harassed by authorities for being who they are. Painting this mural was an example of voicing out my beliefs. Christ is where I rest from the worries of society. This mural was designed and facilitated by 19 year-old lead artist Ruth Buentello.

Ruth Buentello grids the wall in preparation for the mural sketch transfer.

Mural crew member, Alexis, works on the mural.

Ruth Buentello was born and raised in San Antonio. She is a graduate of Brackenbridge high school. She currently attends San Antonio College and plans on pursuing a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree from the Art Institute in Chicago. Ruth has been involved with the San Anto Cultural Arts for several years. She wrote articles for the El Placazo community newspaper before becoming involved in the Mural Program. She has worked on several murals as a Hard-Core Crew Member - "Tradicion y Cultural" at the corner of Chupaderas and Guadalupe and "Breaking the Cycle" at the corner of Zarzamora and San Fernando. This is the first mural Ruth has facilitated as lead muralist.

Detail of sketch work.

Ruth Buentello battles with the scaffolding.

Mural crew volunteeer, Sumatra Wangsomnuk, works down on the mural floor.

Poet, Fernando Flores, dedicates the Piedad mural with a poem at the November 22nd blessing and dedication ceremony.

Local Chicana artist, Deborah Vasquez, drops some serious science on the history and future of public art in San Antonio.

Ruth gets interviewed by one of the local Spanish language TV stations after the blessing ceremony of her mural.

Ruth's brother and mother at the mural blessing and dedication.

More of Ruth's proud family at the blessing ceremony.

Ruth speaks to the crowd at the mural blessing ceremony. She is happy to be done with the mural.