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Home Sweet Home
Con A de Arte, 2008
I began this project by thinking about the origin of the saying “Home Sweet
Home”. In Spanish, the word for home (Hogar) means hearth. The hearth is the
place where we feel secure and comfortable.
Here in the USA, we might live in a house, but our home is represented by the
United States Flag. This flag is made up by thirteen red and white stripes (the
first 13 colonies), and fifty stars, each for every state in the Union. It was
in gathering this information that I realized I might not be the only one that
needed to learn about my new home flag. I also realize that I could just share
this information with others or, better yet, make the information come alive by
requesting the active participation of many in the creation of the “Home Sweet
Home” mural. The
Mural
The USA flag will be the subject of the mural. I have intended to gather
Latino/Hispanic children enrolled in the city’s schools. In the course of
several days, the children will paint the stripes with their hands symbolizing
their inclusion in the make up of this country; then, the 50 stars will be
painted by an equal number of Latino/Hispanic children who come from the area or
from each of the fifty states, as a representation of their presence throughout
the country. Within the flag there will be a house built with bricks that will
bear the flags of the different Latin American countries to symbolize the
American Dream that they all came here to pursue. In the house I will paint in
my caricature and colorful style a father, mother, son and daughter that will
represent the Family and its importance in society. Smoke will rise from the
house which will turn into clouds. From the clouds, rain will come and will feed
the plants (environment) planted outside the flag. Shadows tending to the grass
and building the house and the flag will represent the role and
sentiment. Catalina Echeverri will produce a video with the cooperation of
several children who will share about their coming to the USA, their family
stories, and their recent participation in the mural. e-mail
cata_echeverry@yahoo.com.
La
familia
To develop this project I will enlist the cooperation of the
following people: Conchy Farrell (Bilingual Outreach Specialist for the Public
Library- PLCMC)
cfarrell@plcmc.org and Rafael Prieto ( Editor in Chief of the newspaper ‘Mi
Gente’, and official reporter for the EFE agency) e-mail rafael@migente.us, Web
Services:
Rafael Rodriguez (Founder and owner of the informational website
DescubreCharlotte.com) rafael@descubrecharlotte.com, Photography: Ortega
Gaines;Design and Publicity: Juan Marín.
Proposed locations: Compare Foods’ Arrowood supermarket so that both the mural
and the business can benefit form the exposure.
For the grand opening, I am in touch with a group of musicians from the
Charlotte Symphonic Orchestra.(Vivace) The singer Alan Ramos, CMS Contacts José
Hernández Paris ( Diversity Specialist) jose.paris@cms.k12.nc.us
980.343.0471;Dean Johns (Art Director) Gloria Miller ( Media ServicesDirector)
PLCMC (Public Library ) Meryle Leonard Maleonard@plcmc.org 704.416.0558 Conchy
Farrell.
Project Timetable
The project will be developed in three phases. During the first phase the
artistic idea of the mural and the video will take form.
During the second phase the written component for the mural will be developed
and the location will be chosen. Participant schools, students and the final
dates will be chosen during the third phase. This is also the phase where the
photography and publicity components will be coordinated.
- January 17 y 18- Photos will be taken for publicity purposes.
- January 21 al 22- Location will be selected. Contact CMS for possible
cooperation.
- February 16 – The bricks to include in the painting will be given to 25
children in the Coffey and Thompson Gallery. Selection of the main characters in
the video.
- February 29 – Project presentation to the Media.
- March 8 – May 10 Painting of the flag stripes.
- May 12- Send invitations for the unveiling of the mural and contact media.
- May 16 - Art Show where the 50 stars of the Union and the bricks covered in
Latin American flags will be on display.
- May 17 -25 - Finish the paintings.
- June 6 Unveiling of the ‘Home Sweet Home’ mural and opening of Con A de Arte. |
