by Katherine Bowers
Volunteering for the Santa Ana Artists’ Coalition in the Arts Alley, artist Higgy Vasquez painted Frida Kahlo holding a Mayan artifact in her hand. It was a picture he found on the internet and he decided to do something of his own preference utilizing the photo. Vasquez added a half face with a floral design pattern, done in the Day of the Dead style and knowing the memorial celebration would be coming up in the near future.
Every Saturday for about a year during 2016-2017, Santa Ana, Ca. residents could go to the Santa Ana Artist Coalition Art Alley project, located off Main St. between 3rd and 4th streets. Families would make a day of it to have fun, try their hand at painting, bring a picnic and enjoy the day. Sometimes there was a band and potluck. The Coalition was developing a community public arts mural in a back alley of the Downtown Santa Ana Artists’ Village.
People would visit the back alley wall, and discover the 8′ by 6′ Frida Kahlo. The location became a local photo op for visitors and those seeking out the mural. After a few months, the wall was painted over, although reluctantly, for others to try their hand at painting. Everyone really loved the Frida. The mural themes were still being designed at that time and Frida was not part of the community/history theme that was being planned.
Of course, the solution for this popular painting is to re-create it somewhere else. Hopefully Vasquez, will give that a go. During the try-out-your-own-art at the wall, Vasquez painted another image of an 8′ Chinese Dancer holding a fan, big bright and colorful. The amazing part of these creations is how quickly Vasquez painted and how the public enjoyed his choice of works. Although these temporary works would be painted over, they were quite a bit of fun for everyone, and though they are gone now, photography helps us to see what was.
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