“Be the Change” ABQ Mural Fest 2018

“Murals with a Message” bring community members together through a common conversation.

When you are visiting Albuquerque, New Mexico, or live there and are looking for some adventure, go to the east side of Three Little Birds Bakery & Co. in Nob Hill. There you will find my 30′ tall “BE the CHANGE” Tree and silhouette scene. My intention was to create an opportunity for community members to come together through a common conversation. I’m curious to hear your thoughts.

Here I am celebrating with Jessica, the owner of Three Little Birds Bakery & Co. along with their sister store: Swiss Alps Bakery. It was her enthusiasm for our Kindness Club program that led to the collaboration on the creation of this mural.
*How about those flying coffee cups!*

Participating in Mural Fest 2018 was a very interesting experience for me. I was honored to be one of more than 50 artists participating in the 3-week long event. There was such a sense of wonder being among world-renowned artists all working at the same time on such a wide variety of designs and different media.

This was my first mural on a public street. I have painted in/on schools and inside at the Albuquerque Aquarium. What made it different was that I’ve never had opportunities to interact with community members as I painted. I was amazed to see people’s interest in my mural, the process, and the message.

I felt like the member of a community in an area far from my home. Throughout the festival, people went out of their way to stop by. Sometimes it was the glitter shimmering the sun, sometimes it was the message that attracted people. What I enjoyed most was having real conversations with people about the need for change, the need for positivity.

My mural is a work in progress. The building is being renovated from the 1940’s original exterior. The silhouette scene will run the length of the building, showing examples of what we can DO because “We must BE the CHANGE we wish to see in the world.” – Gandhi.

Check out the gallery below to see the mural in process. The mural is just 1/3 completed as building renovations have yet to be completed for the other sides of the tree. The silhouettes continue the length of the building, over the fence, and extend to the side of the cafe. Each image shows what one can to to “Be the Change.” Under the tree the silhouettes remind us to build relationships and learn through reading.

This was just the beginning…

This inspiring tree is now sprouting up in local schools. You will find this one in the kindergarten courtyard at Emerson Elementary School in Albuquerque. Students will be adding their hand prints and more leaves in the Spring.