The gifts traveling has bestowed upon us over the last 2 years have been vast. One of those gifts has led to our passion and photographic documentation of the inspiring, incredibly talented and technically skilled Urban Mural Artists all over the world. Local Street Art has become an art form which we seek out where ever we go, both within and outside the USA. No matter how many murals we see and photograph the next one we encounter still seems to take our breath away.
We have been thrilled to share these varied themes and art pieces with our friends, family, and followers. However, it wasn’t until our most recent trip to San Miguel de Allende (our 3rd) that we realized just how precious these photos we’ve taken are, and that nothing in the framework of “Street Art” can be considered permanent and should never be taken for granted.
One of our favorite murals has been removed. Last year we passed this gorgeous mural (left) every day and she became a marker in our neighborhood. After 2 months she was almost real like a local neighbor you say “Buenos Dias” to each morning when passing and “Buenas Noches” as the street lights illuminate her on our way home at night.
We went on a mural tour with Colleen Sorensen of Muros en Blanco on our last trip viewing both old and new works, and we soon realized that these treasures can have a varied life expectancy due to: the foundations of the walls, the types of paints and sealants used, new buildings going up around the murals, buildings being sold (reminding us that “one person’s treasure…”), and the harsh environment created by wind, rain, and sun.
As overcome with sadness in realizing this, we recognize this is truly “The Art of Life”. And like life each mural has its time and place and should be admired, cherished, and documented at each stage before making way for new life and new talent, with timeless themes of cultural and political importance. Just as the messages reflected in the works of the Icons of Mexican Mural Art: David Alfaro Siqueiros, Diego Rivera, and Jose Clemente Orozco with their artistic statements of: the pride of culture, the individual uniqueness of everyday life, the unmasking of greed, corrupt political systems, and leaders, mass injustices and tragedies, the new mural artists of today are also creating works that demonstrate the joys, the sadness, and the realities of life.
These are the storytellers of yesterday, today, and tomorrow with this world-wide movement. So if you are walking in a new town or any area with “Graffiti” or “Mural Art”, no matter what the detail or skill level….Stop! and absorb their messages, for this is truly the “Local News”.
We will visit San Miguel de Allende again, and we will walk through Colonia Guadalupe with a bit of a heavy heart knowing she will no longer greet us. But we will also walk with the anticipation and excitement of photographing a new talented Artist, allowing us the privilege of experiencing, if only for a short time, her or his view of: love, life, family, culture, humor, rebellion or joy…
– – Judy Terra, 2017
– – Photography by Michael Guttman and Judy Terra
View more photos of the amazing street art in San Miguel de Allende here.
