When Tepehua Community Center volunteer Connie Smith met Susan Shanley, the New York artist had just completed a large mural in an impoverished area of Ecuador. She was looking around for a space for another mural, particularly in an impoverished area. Smith convinced Shanley that she knew just the place – the Tepehua Community Center located in the hills above the town of Chapala.
When the agreement for the project had been reached, the wall (the south side of the center’s main building) had to be prepared. It was difficult due to the unexpected out-of-season rains but volunteers persevered and the wall was ready when the artists arrived. The artists, Sandy and Ali Kiley from California, Kathy Chambers and Connie and Chris Smith from Ontario, Canada and Lakesiders Jill and John Mathews worked for one week, leaving some finishing up for local artists.
“However, the real inspiration and lots of work came from the enthusiasm of local kids and adults,” says Center President Moonyeen King. “We put out a flier explaining that the theme for the new mural would be a history of the flora and fauna of the Tepehua area and that residents were welcome to help out. They turned up in droves to pitch in or just watch. It had become a real community project.”
The wall brings color and light to an area of Lakeside greyed with dirt and poverty. “The people of Tepehua own this wall,” says King. “It is a thing of beauty in a field of dust and grey buildings. Art and music are the soul of the people of Mexico and they leave their mark in murals of every town.”
Now, in one of the poorest areas around Lake Chapala, you will see one of the brightest, most lively works of art anywhere, and it is owned with pride by the people of Tepehua.
The board members of Tepehua want to thank the artists who traveled a long way on their own time and money and understand that “art brings light.”
The Tepehua Community Center has been in operation for about 18 months and provides hot meals, a women’s health clinic, help registering kids for school, kids’ sports opportunities, help with school work and a whole panoply of aid to improve life in the neighborhood.
To see the mural and learn more about the Tepehua Community Center, visit the center. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..