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| Artist: Saner, on Palacio Municipal Photo L.Lock |
In
an explosion of colour and mythical creatures, the Sea Walls –
Murals for Oceans project blasted its way onto Isla Mujeres.
Fifteen
artists from the USA, Mexico, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and Spain arrived on
Isla in mid-July for the start of a nine-day urban art festival.
The
event would eventually see the creation of a multitude of
eye-popping murals decorating blank walls of various public and
private buildings.
Ruben Perez, the Director of Culture for the Municipality of Isla Mujeres, was approached last February by the sponsoring organization asking for assistance for the program; assistance in gaining permission to paint specific walls on public and private buildings.
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| Pangeseed: protection of endangered marine life |
In conjunction with Pangeaseed, World Art Destinations, 1XRUN, Residencia Gorila, and Juxtapoz Latin America supplied the funding to make the event happen.
PangeaSeed.org is an international organization that collaborates with members of the art, science, and environmental activist communities to raise awareness of sharks and other marine species in peril.
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| FB page of Sea Walls for Oceans |
When I asked “Why Isla Mujeres” as a location for this amazing project, Liz Rashell , Creative Director at World Art Destinations, said the project organizers “chose Isla Mujeres, México, cause Isla Mujeres serves as the nursery of the Caribbean and is on the migratory path of whale sharks, manta rays, sea turtles and large schools of fish.” That sounds to me like a great reason to celebrate with colour and beauty.
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| Pelucas, on Guerrero Photo L. Lock |
We,
and several other islanders, have spent the last two weeks trying
to locate and photograph all of the murals.
It's a bit like a
scavenger hunt, as the website map is more of a suggestion
where the images might be found. Driving around in Centro
can be a bit hazardous at the best of times because the
one-way street system is very poorly marked. Add to that
rubber-necking art enthusiasts who are attempting to snap photos
while driving past the working artists. It got a bit interesting at
times.
I resorted to sitting in the back of the golf cart
while Lawrie drove, allowing me to take photos as we located the
murals. Finally, I found the last one I was looking for, painted high up on the Hotel
Osorio on Madero Street.
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| Artist: Cinzah Seekayem on Madero Photo L. Lock |
It's a fun painting called “The Traveller” by Cinzah Seekayem. The mural faces west on a one-way street, but it requires twisting your neck around and up.
To take the photo, I had to park
the golf cart, climb up on the front grill and balance on one foot. I have a broken toe on my right foot, so I couldn't put any pressure
on that foot. (The silly stuff we do
to take photos for this blog!)
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| Local students across from school Photo L. Lock |
Among the official murals are a few that were done by other artists
joining in the fun. The one near the middle school appears to be a
collection of complementary images painted by sixteen local students.
It is a vivid mural done in orange, pink and green depicting Mayan
ancestors, whale sharks, manta rays, and sailfish. It is one of our
favourites, although truth be told, we like them all!
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| Curiot at the entrance to Mercado Photo L. Lock |
The
fifteen artists had such a good time on Isla Mujeres, they are
willing to return next year with more artists to paint more murals! Wow! If they run out of blank spaces to fill, we would happily
volunteer an exterior wall of our house.
Thank
you, Tristan Eaton, Tatiana Suarez, Vexta, Saner, Smithe, Nosego,
Curiot, Meggs, Aaron Glasson, Shark Toof, Hannah Stouffer, Pelucas,
Cinzah Seekayem, Yoh Nagao, and Celeste Byers adding colour and fun to our
island.
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| NoseGo, back of Mercado Photo L. Lock |
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| Tatiana Suarez official web photo |
Hasta luego, Lynda, Lawrie, Sparky, and Thomas the Cat
Murder. Mayhem. Revenge. Romance.
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