Bare concrete pillars beneath an overpass at 17th and Robinson Avenue in Oklahoma City are set to become a canvas for community art, part of a new initiative called El Movimiento that organizers hope will bring both color and connection to the area. The project aims to transform those pillars into murals celebrating Latino and Chicano traditions, Oklahoma culture and community pride.
El Movimiento, which means “The Movement,” was created by Exiquio “Zeke” Gonzalez, who says getting the community involved is central to the project's purpose. According to News 9, “I just want the community to be involved,” Gonzalez said. The project invites Chicano and Latino artists and muralists to take part in creating a series of murals that celebrate heritage, identity and community, according to Celda151.
A Site Rooted in Local History
The selected site sits at the piers beneath the overpass near Manuel Perez Jr. Park, per the same account from Celda151. Potential mural subjects include Chicano history, lowrider culture, Indigenous roots, family and resilience, organizers say. The project draws inspiration from colorful public artwork in places such as Chicano Park in San Diego, California, and in Austin, Texas, the station's report notes.
That Austin connection has deep roots of its own. A Mexic-Arte Museum exhibition on Chicano and Chicana art in Austin, which ran from April 8 through August 21, 2022, traced decades of creative work from the 1960s through the 1980s spanning visual art, music, photography, dance, poetry, literature and film, according to Mexic-Arte Museum. That exhibit also featured murals by Master Muralist Amado Castillo III, working alongside Amado Castillo IV and student assistants, the museum said. Many of the Austin artists it showcased made work for local Chicano newspapers and political causes while also fulfilling traditional art assignments as students, per Mexic-Arte Museum.
Not Just a Spectator Project
Organizers want residents to take part in creating El Movimiento rather than simply viewing the finished artwork once it's done. People of all ages can enjoy techniques such as paint-by-number or help an artist fill in a single color on a pillar, News 9 reports. Gonzalez hopes people will return to the murals years later and remember having had a hand in making them.
Artist Angie Santillan said the murals will incorporate Oklahoma culture, and some could even include people enjoying Braum's. Fellow artist Maddi Primeaux said the artwork is meant for all Oklahomans and is intended to bring unity. A participant identified only as Anny said the murals could help people feel connected and less alone.
Timeline and How To Get Involved
Phase one of El Movimiento is scheduled to begin at the end of this year, with organizers hoping to complete the full project by 2028. Organizers are seeking donations, supplies and community partners, and residents can help simply by spreading the word and connecting artists with the project. Applications for the El Movimiento Project can be found at celda151.org/el-movemento.
The push for more murals around the city comes as Oklahoma City has moved to loosen rules for public art. The city says it adopted a sign-code ordinance making it easier for artists to create murals, according to the City of Oklahoma City. Separately, a local meeting report indicates the city's Arts Commission approved a recommendation for a privately funded community mural program under the Manuel Perez Park overpass, with public-works inspections and waivers set to determine the final scope, according to a Oklahoma City public meeting report.
