Dia de los Muertos - Mural and Community Project
Conexión Latina Newport & The Newport Art Museum - Newport, RI
It was an honor to be received with such grace by the Conexión Latina community, and I truly appreciate the trust that they put in me to represent their stories and families in the mural. It has been a life changing experience. I will continue working with projects that amplify the stories of Latino and immigrant communities to honor their traditions, their families and the importance of celebrating their spaces. Thank you Rebekah and Yoli for all the work you do in the community and for making this connection possible.
Thank you to the Newport Art Museum for supporting my vision for the mural and for printing a photo of the piece to be placed in the museum. I hope that the photo of the mural in the Museum will help to bring Museum goers to Conexcion Latina where they can connect with this fabulous project. Thank you to Cristin, Seamus and Norah for first making this connection and for all of your support and commitment every step of the way. Having the Museum present at every event and space was so important to the success of the project and I was so grateful to have had you all present. The final celebration at the Newport Art Museum was a magical evening. It was so meaningful to see the mix of cultures, backgrounds and experiences represented at the Museum. Thank you to Jesus de la Torre for your increible storytelling and charisma to bring these important traditions to this space. These stories now hold an important place in my heart. A la comunidad Latina de Newport, gracias por compartir sus sueños, sus medios, sus pérdidas y las memorias a través de su camino. Ustedes son mis héroes por su coraje y perseverancia para seguir persiguiendo sus sueños por una vida mejor. Me han inspirado a seguir celebrando mis raíces y mis ancestros y siempre traerlos conmigo donde sea que voy. Abrazos, Orlando Almanza |