We Make Art!
When it rains it pours in Honduras, and this past week it was pouring art. KM2 Solutions invited OYE’s art program to join forces with a local San Pedrano artist to create one of OYE’s most recent murals.
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| Gerald Velasquez |
Early Saturday morning the youth
coordinator of OYE’s Art La Calle
program Gerald Velazquez, OYE’s director Marisol Fuentes, and several art
participants arrived with the first light of day to the office. Snacking on
baleadas and wondering what the day had in store for them, they patiently
waiting the driver sent to collect them and deliver them to KM2 in San Pedro
Sula. Over two months ago KM2 had started a dialogue with OYE about painting a
mural in their office. Today that dialogue would come to fruition. But no one
knew how it would turn out.
In August KM2 introduced OYE and Gerald
to a mysterious young artist named Jorge from San Pedro. The idea was that
Jorge and Gerald would collaborate on the creation of a mural for the rapidly
expanding call center. The meeting went smoothly-the two artists tossing around
ideas and deciding on a few basic concepts. Everyone present left the meeting
confident that in a week or two we’d be splashing some fresh paint on one of
the stifling clean and sterile walls of Altia Business Park, hopefully giving
the industrial behemouth some real soul and character.
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| Gerald's Draft - Two Youth with Mayan roots and modernity in the background. |
Upon return to the OYE offices, Gerald
worked day and night preparing drafts to share with Jorge and KM2. He sent emails and follow ups but heard
nothing back. Sam stepped in and communicated with Walter from KM2: “What
happened to Jorge? Have you heard anything?”
The mysterious artista was off the map.
The days lapsed into weeks and the weeks into months, and still no Word from
Jorge. Gerald’s persistent questioning and eager attitude ebbed, and it seemed
like the KM2 mural was a lost cause.
Suddenly, an email from Walter kicked the
Project into high gear. The US ambassador would be visiting KM2 to learn about
its relationship with OYE in two weeks. It was time to get some of that OYE youth
heart and soul on the walls of KM2.
On Tuesday, an ultimatium was sent out to Jorge who finally found his
keyboard and answered Wednesday. In three days OYE, Jorge, and KM2 would be
putting this mural together. Jorge would be sending drafts, incorporating
Geralds work, to KM2 by no later than Friday, and work would begin on Saturday.
Friday rolled around and Walter,
coordinating everything on behalf of KM2, called with a little strain in his
voice. Jorge had not forwarded any drafts-nor answered calls/emails. As he
arranged transportation, Walter urged Gerald to have a Plan B ready.
As the OYE mural delegation arrived to
KM2 at 9 AM there was no sign of Jorge. They toured the building and saw the
wall that they would soon be taking over. KM2 provided refreshments as the OYE
art group nervously waiting Jorge’s arrival or Walter’s go ahead to execute
Plan B. KM2 held out until about mid-day when Jorge and his artist friend
finally arrived in time for lunch.
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| Step One: Paint a Background - Jorge and Friend |
After lunch they approached the wall and
begin to paint. To the surprise of OYE’s younger art students they paint in
with Fast bold brush strokes. They were demonstrating a new technique that the
OYE students had not seen befote. Each artist freely used color and shading to
craft surreal faces that came alive from the magical background. The end
product created mixed reactions among OYE’s art students. Some rejecting the
surreal elements of the painting, while others appreciated the creative and
expressive use of color.
As the two artists concluded the surreal
youth faces, OYE’s students began painting the organizations signature Maya
letters. The final product a diverse and interesting merger of three distinct
styles and techniques.
