130 E 21st Street – X3MEX

X3MEX was born in Torreon Coahuila Mexico, migrated to Arkansas, U.S. in 1994. Focus on social issues, I am a visual artist whose mediums range from graphic design, screen printing, mural painting, canvas painting, photography, sculpture, and graffiti. I’m active in my community, am an organizer of cultural events, have painted all through the US and Mexico, from Chiapas, Mexico City, Juarez, NY City, all through the South, Portland, to name a few. From the Spanish embassy in Mexico city to small neighborhoods in Juarez and elsewhere. I’m a co-founder member of the art collective, Movimiento Hunab Ku and member of Colectivo Reziste.

Let’s make some magic.

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MURAL DESCRIPTION

“Por Los Caminos De La Esperanza – By The Paths Of Hope”

Paying homage and telling the story of those with no voice, those that leave everything for the hope of a better tomorrow. Many travel by train, others by foot, the turmoil and despair that people go through in such a journey. By depicting the reality of those that walk all night and ride ‘la bestia’ – the train the goes from South America through Mexico and to the US, in search of new horizons. The train serves as transportation to thousands and many die or are crippled or lose their limbs on this train. Many dangers have to be endured on this trip to “el norte.” By depicting the train full of immigrants on its back, it carries hundreds of people and their dreams to the promise of a better tomorrow. As the train travels on its path, it turns into Quetzalcoatl, the God of Life. It is the feathered serpent which carries its people on his back, blessing them through their journey wherever it may take them. There are those that travel by foot along with their loved ones and those that ride the train through many terrains and obstacles, thieves, police, and immigration. There are others that aid the travelers with food, water, medicine, or a place to rest. There are many players in this reality and many that don’t make it to their destination. We tell our stories to remember, to honor, and to learn. We tell our stories because no one else will. We must teach our children where we come from and who we are. Our spirit and identity as immigrants and sons of immigrants is honored, embraced and celebrated for those that came before us to make us who we are today and who we can be in the future. Our stories must be told.