From Drab to Hopeful
HOW ART UNITED & TRANSFORMED A NEIGHBOURHOOD
A group of young graffiti artists were asked to paint a Mexican hillside village of 209 houses. The project in the neighbourhood of Las Palmitas in the city of Pachuca was designed to bring its working-class residents together, change the neighbourhood’s negative image, and inspire the local youth.
Working hand-in-hand with residents, the artists painted the facades of the homes in bright lavender, lime green, and incandescent orange – colours far brighter than the drab, cement-and-cinderblock neighbourhoods where many of Mexico's poor live.
After 14 months of work, the entire village was covered from street to rooftop with 215,000 square feet of vibrant murals, which turned the area into a colourful, eye-catching neighbourhood.
Seen from afar, the individually painted houses combine to form a cohesive rainbow design, with bright stripes that begin on one wall running across several homes before swooping into graceful curls – a homage to the wind which inspired the city’s nickname of "la bella airosa" ("the beautiful breezy city.").
This creative initiative not only improved the visual appeal of the village, it also had a positive impact on the community. It helped to boost local pride; and after the place was beautified, crime in the community dropped dramatically. The 452 families living in the town felt happier and more confident in their colourful new city.
Before the makeover, Las Palmitas was a sketchy area where people avoided going out after dark or interacting with each other. After the place was transformed, there was more community spirit and better integration, with residents taking responsibility for the security of their neighbourhood.
The project highlights the power of art in revitalising communities and fostering a sense of ownership and pride among residents.
– based on info from Knowledge Junction; Good News Network; and Independent, UK
(Photos: GERMEN Nuevo Muralismo Mexicano)
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