Last April I applied to a call-to-art from the City of Tukwila, Utility Box Art Program 2023. The program selects a handful of artists each year to create public art at specific locations and in June I received my acceptance letter. I’d be creating art for a vinyl wrap-around on utility box #208, which is located on Southcenter Parkway at the Old Navy shopping center entrance.

I was in the midst of creating my La Tierra collection when I got the news and had just finished “El Sol” and “Journey”. I wanted to create something bright for the box, taking into consideration the many months of moody overcast skies here in the pacific northwest. So I digitally enhanced and combined “El Sol” and “Journey” adding golds, greens, teals, purples and shades of turquoise to compliment a radiating yellow sun and glowing moon.

Each artist was provided with photos of our individual grey boxes and specific dimensions to help us plan accordingly. Below is box #208 before the vinyl wrap-around. This blank canvas really needed some color!

The week it was installed I made a trip down south to see box #208 and - whoa, talk about a makeover - it looks gorgeous! It turned out better than I expected! The colors pop so vibrantly! It happened to be cloudy on the day I took these photos and it’s easy to see the full effect of my bright palette against that moody sky. I couldn’t be happier. I walked several laps around it smiling.

I titled my work “La naturaleza es una companera” which means ‘Nature is a companion’.

After being invited to be the 2023 Featured Chalk Mural Artist at Bellevue Arts Museum (BAM) Arts Festival, I visited BAM’s exhibit “Strange Weather”, which explores the relationships and boundaries between bodies and the environment.” The works of art hit those notes hard and each artist conveyed a message with their own unique lens. I remember the rich colors - saturated reds, rust-oranges, turquoise, yellows and greens. When I learned how BAM wanted my chalk mural to be inspired by the exhibit I knew I would be including a vibrant color palette.

I was asked to title my mural, which is the hardest thing for me to do for any piece I create. But after spending time with Strange Weather I had a solid idea. My mural’s title would be, Arrested Antidote. I chose it in an attempt to evoke reflection about our action/inaction with regards to body-and-land violence and the missed opportunities and contributions that are lost as a result. I wanted to depict people in the midst of migration and to some degree expedient exodus. The land masses would be unnatural and the sun would be a dark, ominous color to spotlight the changes currently underway in our environment(s). There would be waves of water and bubbles floating throughout each shape - each representing a breath.

I spent several hours prepping my chalk colors and labeling them according to each shape. I went back to my notes from the Strange Weather visit to ensure I was doing justice to my tribute. I kicked-off the first day by chalk-drawing a large circle (6 feet in diameter) and outlined everything. I spent a total of 18 hours on my design, but it didn’t feel like that at all. I think it’s because I had so much fun chatting with all the families, kids, staff and volunteers the entire weekend. I heard so many different languages being spoken, met people from all over the world and at when I painted the last stroke of chalk paste I felt exhilarated. I’d been able to share my progress [and shared my inspiration] with so many others who have stories of their own to tell. I was beyond grateful that I got a chance to listen.