About the Project 

In 2012, Mural Arts partnered on Aqui y Alla, a transnational public art project created and directed by artist Michelle Angela Ortiz. The project explores the impact of immigration in the lives of Mexican immigrant youth in South Philadelphia in connection with youth in Chihuahua, Mexico.

Aqui y Alla, which translates to “here and there,” refers to the youth in both Philadelphia and Mexico, whose lives are impacted by immigration through their family dynamic, sense of identity, shifting of cultures, socioeconomic status, and violence against their communities. This project works simultaneously on both sides of the border to join the two cultural worlds through the vision of young people and their art.

In addition to the final mural in South Philadelphia, Mural Arts hosted a curated exhibit of photos, artwork, and video surrounding the project.

Four artists and community leaders from the Colectivo Rezizte (Juarez) and Colectivo Madroño (Chihuahua City) worked with indigenous youth in Mexico, who created transportable murals on fiber cloth panels that were brought to Philadelphia. With the support of the United States Consulate in Juarez, the four artists (David Flores, Juan Carlos Reyes, Oscar Gallegos, and Antonio Leal) traveled to Philadelphia to work in collaboration with lead local artist Ortiz in conducting a series of writing, street art, and mural technique workshops with Mexican immigrant youth in South Philadelphia.

Guided by the artists, the mural panels from Mexico were permanently installed and combined with the images created by Mexican immigrant youth in South Philadelphia. The end result is a permanent mural located on 1515 South 6th Street.

As a project partner, Mural Arts worked with Ortiz and the other artists to provide scaffolding and paint, prep the wall, and employ a teaching artist to work with Art Education students. Philadelphia Academies Inc. joined the effort as a collaborator.