At the end of November, two bright new murals took over regular exterior walls at the Ramirez Community Center, tying the setting into the activities organizers hope San Antonians will enjoy nearby. Titled “Motivated Community” and “Joyful Momentum,” the works represent activity as well as a spirit of togetherness — fitting for the organization that helped bring them to life.
This is the first collaboration between the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio Street Art Initiative, a local nonprofit that focuses on career development for street artists. The nonprofit has created 66 murals around the city so far, and is organizing “the largest outdoor gallery in Texas,” currently in the form of a self-guided tour via Google Maps. The city's involvement includes another layer of collaboration between the Department of Arts & Culture, the Department of Parks & Recreation, and San Antonio City Council District 4.
“The Ramirez Community Center mural project is the perfect example [of] how inter-departmental collaborations can work to beautify our existing community spaces,” said Department of Parks & Recreation assistant director Nikki Ramos in a press release. “Through community participation and input, this mural gives this space identity and creates pride among area residents.”
These are the first sports and recreation murals commissioned by the city. One depicts a larger-than-life child on a swing, offering a more leisurely and carefree point of view on movement. The other places snapshots of different sports together, blurring the line between official team sports and everyday exercise. It offers some diversity by taking inspiration from “real individuals who use the facilities,” including adults, children, different body types, and abstract colors.
These murals mark a first partnership between the city and the San Antonio Street Art Initiative.Photo courtesy of the City of San Antonio
“Murals are having a major moment right now and this is an excellent example of how meaningful creative work can help express and support a sense of neighborhood history, culture and belonging,” said executive director Krystal Jones. “We are delighted to have partnered with the nonprofit San Antonio Street on this project and hope that the community will find these stunning public works of art to be invigorating and inspiring to all.”
The artists, Adriana Garcia and sisters Manola and Maria Ramirez, blended their styles to make this colorful set of murals that combines punchy graphic design with more realistic, honest depictions of people in action. The Ramirez sisters are graduates of the University of Texas at Austin.
“Motivated Community” and “Joyful Momentum” can be viewed at the Ramirez Community Center, at 1011 Gillette Blvd. More information on the Ramirez Community Center and its activities is available at sanantonio.gov.
