It is a neighborhood like many others with shops, offices, grocery stores, churches and modest homes. But what sets this neighborhood apart may not be what you think. Certainly, the tagging indicates a gang presence on the west side. It is difficult to get away from the evidence in many San Antonio areas. But, there is more written on these walls.

There is beauty. There is emotion. There is hope.
It is clearly expressed in the 37 plus murals that adorn the otherwise unremarkable west-side buildings.

The first mural, "Educacion", was created in 1994 by three people: Juan Ramos, Cruz Ortiz and Manny Castillo. Manny had a vision of the west-side that he wanted to share with his neighbors.

"He wanted to make the west side like a museum," said Mural Project Coordinator Ruth Buentello.

As an artist he must have seen an empty and gray palette. He envisioned the community coming together to create an aesthetic that would express the west-side experience.

The murals do just that.

They address barrio warfare, domestic violence, mental health, faith and history. In fact, Buentello says history is an often recurring theme in many of the murals. She pointed out one in particular. "Lideres de la Comunidad' which pays tribute to community leaders, those who contributed to the west side. That includes founders of the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, as well as grandmothers and grandfathers. Buentello said artists often incorporate Aztec themes, legends of the Aztec gods, in their work. This is also in reverence to their rich Hispanic origins.

The process for creating the murals can take three to five months. The designer or lead artist transfers the design to the wall, others fill in the color, and then several layers of detail are added before it is complete.

Once it leaves the hand of the lead artist, the others in the community come together and make it their own when they pick up a paint brush. When done, everyone is invited to the mural blessing. The artist and everyone who participated in the project introduce it to the neighborhood. There are prayers, poetry and music. It is an event.

And it is clear that the murals have had a positive impact. Because the community embraces the work, it is less likely to be tagged. That is one of the reasons businesses in the area ask to have murals placed on their walls.

But there is more.

The Mural Project is a program of the San Anto Cultural Arts. It has three divisions: multi-media, newspaper and the mural project.

Each of the programs serves to teach children, youth and the elderly the various arts of expression. That means they try to incorporate everyone, regardless of age, into their projects, and what they teach translates into real skills that are not only marketable, but also better appreciated because of that inclusiveness.

Buentello herself is a product of the program. She participated in her first mural when she was 16. Later she produced a video of the process, which, she says, earned her entrance into the prestigious Art Institute of Chicago.

There is no doubt that the murals have changed the face of the west side. They document life, such as the mural that depicts 8 different phases in the life of Chicana, and the one that is dedicated to the victims of violence, "Peace and Remembrance". The latter was designed by four young women, ages twelve to thirteen, and incorporates many of the names of victims. It could be considered a living mural for it has been noted that people continue to add names to the piece.

There is a new mural in the works on the west side. The design has been transferred to two walls of a handball court at Escobar Park at 1400 S. Zarzamora. The crew and volunteers have begun to fill in the color, and expect to be finished in December.

To find out about the San Anto Cultural Arts Mural Project you can go their website, or give them a call at 210-226-7466. But to really experience the significance of the project you should sign up for a mural tour. The fee is only $10, takes about 1 to 2 hours and you get a comprehensive glimpse into the beauty in the heart of the westside.

View the kens5.com Westside Mural slideshow.