Two murals — one in Albuquerque and another in Miami, Oklahoma — seek to give people a positive outlook during the current coronavirus pandemic.
The first mural by an artist named Paz is at Walter Street and Central Avenue (aka Route 66) in Albuquerque. KOB-TV in Albuquerque reports:
The mural showcases two wings, in black and white, filled with iconic New Mexico images. When the project is complete, people will also find the words “Kind, Loving, Caring and Sharing” in turquoise at the top of the wings.
“At times like this, especially with the governor stay at home order, it gives us a time to stop and to contemplate what that really means,” explained Paz. “What interconnectivity really means and how it is that we each serve a place in this world.”
The artwork includes balloons, Route 66, the downtown skyline, and iconic sites that represent the Land of Enchantment.
“I’ve got road runners and the yuccas,” Paz said. “I’ve got chile and corn, which of course are as New Mexican as apple pie is American right?”
Here’s the full video:
The Jennifer Riordan Foundation is paying for the mural, which should be completed within a week.
Riordan, 43, died in 2018 when the engine of a Southwest Airlines jetliner exploded in mid-air. The shrapnel killed her and injured seven other passengers, but pilots landed the plane safely. Riordan was an executive at Wells Fargo and was deeply involved in the Albuquerque community.
In Miami, artist Jeanette Hughes of Fairland, Oklahoma, a senior visual art major at Missouri Southern State University, painted a “We’re All in This Together” mural in the city’s Route 66 Art Park. The artwork is meant as a message of hope and encouragement.
The Miami News-Record reported:
“Jeanette says art has always been a part of her life because her grandmother always drew pictures while she told stories to her grandchildren. When she had to give up a nursing career due to health issues, art also became therapeutic for her and allowed her to have a venue to express pain, frustrations, and victories. She considers it a lifesaver,” said Marcia Johnson, Director of Library, Arts & Culture for the City of Miami. […]
When asked why the arts are important during this time, Hughes said, “The arts are what people see when they are out and about, or in books, magazines, on TV, or wherever. We are strong when we work together, but we all are stronger when we know we are loved and appreciated, and we still need reminders when we get slack. Whether it’s a message of hope, caution, or a thank you, people need to see it.”
Hughes is supposed to graduated this month from Missouri Southern, but there will be no ceremony because of the virus.
(Screen-shot image from video of the in-progress mural in Albuquerque)