There are few things I like better than painting a mural! Especially big ones in public places. I live in the wrong place for that, because rural Copán Ruinas in Honduras has very few big buildings. Fortunately there are plenty of schools in the area and little by little I’m transforming drab walls in colourful artworks, often depicting community members or themes important to the children. The more murals I paint, the more requests I get from teachers and students. Unfortunately, the schools usually can’t afford the $300 I need for materials and transportation, so I’m always looking for sponsors. If you are interested in sponsoring a mural, please let me know! It’s a great project to sponsor for schools or clubs: it’s relatively cheap, the results are permanent, the project is short-term and the impact is huge. The sponsor’s name will appear on the mural, of course.
“Children of Corn”, San Rafael, Copán Ruinas, Honduras, September 2013
This mural depicts two students of the rural elementary and high school in the tiny village of San Rafael, high up in the mountains of Copán. Three days before I started this mural I attended a talent show at the school where I took plenty of pictures. The girl I painted, Helena, was chosen as Miss Independence, here in her outfit made by her fellow students of corn and beans. The boy is José Luís, one of the dancers of the school’s locally famous Cuadro de Danza. The Maya glyph on the background stands for “tortilla” or “tamal” and represents a kernel of corn.
“Fauna of Honduras”, El Malcote, Copán Ruinas, Honduras, August 2013
This 24 meter long mural on the wall of an elementary school depicts different species of Honduras’ abundant fauna, painted in a funky style inspired by local craft work.
“Clínica Maya Chortí de Nuevo san José”, San José de las Lágrimas, Guatemala, July 2013
A Maya design, on request of the community of San José de Las Lágrimas for the newly built community clinic.
“Our Community”, Santa Rita, Copán Ruinas, Honduras, June 2013
22 meter long mural on the wall of the kindergarten in Santa Rita de Copán, with eight portraits of its students. The backgrounds represent various aspects of the community’s productivity, such as woodcarving, coffee, vegetables, maize, ceramics, cattle and the local Rubí waterfall.
“Our Pets Are Our Friends”, Carrizalito I, Copán Ruinas, Honduras, May 2013
Animals, especially dogs, are not always treated well in Honduras. With this mural I tried to show the children of this elementary school that pets can be great companions and should be treated with respect.
“Our Patrimony”, Ostumán, Copán Ruinas, Honduras, March 2013
After an art/photography workshop with the students of the elementary school in Ostumán, I painted this mural depicting a Maya chortí girl from a nearby community. On the right bottom Maya glyphs representing numbers. The message: our Maya culture is still very much alive!
“Our Patrimony”, El Sinaí, Copán Ruinas, Honduras, February 2013
After an art/photography workshop with the students of the elementary school in El Sinaí, I painted this mural depicting a Maya chortí girl from the school with a scarlet macaw on her shoulder, to promote the preservation of this bird in the valley, also an important symbol in ancient Maya culture.
“The Right to Recreation”, El Quebracho, Copán Ruinas, Honduras, December 2012
Play is as important as studying! As Albert Einstein said: “Play is the highest form of research”…
“Girls, get educated!”, La Pintada, Copán Ruinas, Honduras, November 2012
There’s a huge drop-out rate in the upper grades in Honduran school, especially among girls. With this mural I hope to make the girls think about how important education is… The backgrounds depicts glyphs from Stela J in the Archaeological park Copán, at a short distance of the Maya Chortí community.
