Victoria Gonzalez/Vaquero Radio
Community members gathered Monday at the Gateway Building at 315 S. Closner Blvd. in downtown Edinburg, to participate in the mural-making process.
The mural, titled “Edinburg, There Is No Place Like Home” was brought to life by renowned visual artist Mauricio Ramirez.
Based in Chicago, Ramirez was “selected from a competitive pool of applicants by the Cultural Activities Board, Ramirez was chosen for his exceptional ability to weave bold, geometric artistry into meaningful narratives,” according to a city press release.
During his summer visit, he explored Edinburg’s culture and history to develop the mural’s concept.
Each part of the mural showcases different elements that contribute to the culture, community and history. Ramirez explained the symbolism in the design.
“You know, there’s music,” he said. “There’s, like, images just taken off from, you know, Ballet Folklórico, like, the Purple Heart. You know, just having Edinburg being a Purple Heart City, it was something super important that I wanted to bring out into the piece, so, like, dead in the center is, you know, that piece of imagery.”
The mural also pays tribute to Medal of Honor recipient Freddy Gonzalez, who was honored for his bravery during the Battle of Hue City, as well as Edinburg’s commitment to education and its vibrant festivals.
For this artwork, Ramirez said he mainly employed a low-poly technique.
“And ultimately it breaks down the image by just using triangles,” he said. “So it’s a very geometric, very Picasso-like style that I like to use. And then I also merged it with, like, other different styles to, with, like, realism and things that are just very literal of what [people might] think what art is.”
Magdiel Castle, assistant director of Cultural Arts for the City of Edinburg, said the mural is part of the national Arts for Everybody campaign, which promotes art as a tool for community engagement and mental health. Castle explained how the mural will impact the city.
“It’ll impact by beautifying a space here on our main avenue,” he said. “This is what we call the Boulevard of Heroes. So, of course, we have Freddy Gonzalez on it. We also have the hometown of hero’s section with the Purple Heart because we’re a Purple Heart city. So not only will they beautify, it’ll also engage with civic engagement and bring a positive view on everything that we do.”
Celerino Castillo, Vietnam veteran and a member of the Edinburg Arts Foundation, said the mural represents the city’s culture.
“Well, it’s a great thing because we’re known as the city of the Purple Heart,” Castillo said. “Once again, the culture, la cultura, of our city. A lot of pride in what we’re doing for the city of Edinburg. So, we’re really trying to bring out the art thing of the city, so here it is.”
For those who did not get the chance to participate, Castle said the city is planning to make a coloring sheet inspired by the mural. More public art projects are scheduled for the coming months.
This is Victoria Gonzalez for Vaquero Radio.
