UNM Students Create Mural at Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless

Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless (AHCH), UNM Fine Arts, and Working Classroom announce the unveiling of a new mural at Albuquerque Healthcare for the Homeless by UNM’s Fall 2017 mural class.

The class, taught by Dr. Kymberly Pinder, Dean of the UNM College of Fine Arts, and muralist Nani Chacon, focused on the history of murals, from cave painting to graffiti, while concurrently developing a mural for AHCH. Students not only learned about the history of murals, but also about the necessary steps involved in producing and commissioning them. They learned that this year was the 50th anniversary of the Wall of Respect mural in Chicago, which started a movement of inclusion of marginalized communities through public art. This mural at AHCH, celebrates that powerful tradition.

Several mural designs were pitched to the Albuquerque Public Art Program and AHCH. The designs were developed as a class project, and designed by Nathaniel Nez. The design, To Spread Happiness, features hummingbirds, which symbolize determination, flexibility, and adaptability. The hummingbirds flutter across a turquoise sky above the Sandia skyline outlined in rainbow stripes. The class, along with artist, Ms, Chacon, ArtStreet participants, and Working Classroom artists Adriana Ortiz and Angel Pavia then worked on bringing Nathaniel’s design to life.

ArtStreet is a nonprofit organization and art collective at AHCH. It is an open studio that anyone, regardless of housing status, can visit every Thursday and Friday as well as every third Saturday of the month. The studio is an open, safe space where connections and communities are built through art.

The mural is on view at Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless, 1217 1st Street NW, Albuquerque.

“To Spread Happiness” Mural at AHCH.