A Walk Through Mexican History - The Coachella Wall

Today's post is about a work of art that really touched me. I learned from it as well as was taken in by all it's beauty. I hope it reaches into your heart and encourages you to go see it and learn more about this wonderful collaboration of artists and a city.

Enjoy!

The Coachella Wall

The black, gray, and white checkerboard design on the floor is an optical illusion. You feel like the dancers could fall through to another era. Sounds of Swing music are in the air. The couple dances the night away. He's dressed in a canary yellow zoot suit and matching yellow fedora sporting a white band. His white shirt collar is over-sized. His tie, that's black on one side and white with black bulls eye circles on the other, has spilled over the buttoned up jacket from the frenzied movements of his dancing. Wearing black and white wingtips, he dances to the music, eyes closed, as if nothing else matters.

This is one small piece of a 1,400-foot long mural. Tucked away on an unassuming street in Coachella, California, you will experience the pride of the Mexican people. From the dawn of civilization, through the Mayan empire and Spanish conquistadors, to their place in American history, take a walk through time.

Numerous artists collaborated to create this historical depiction of the Mexican people. I left with a desire to learn more about Mexican mythology, the Sleepy Lagoon trial of 1942, and the Zoot Suit riots of 1943. All of these and more are depicted in these mini snips of Mexican history.

While visiting our friend Ramiro Aguilar who lives in Mecca, he took us to see the wall. He told me, "This mural means a lot to me. As a Mexican growing up in the Coachella Valley, I have a passion for history; therefore this mural reflects my history. Many of the paintings show early discoveries and conquest of the Americas; in a way they make me fuse with the painting. Other paintings show Chicano History, such as the Bracero Program, which my grandparents were a part of. These paintings make me appreciate Coachella, but most importantly, my history."

"This mural is dedicated to the mystic place of Atzlan and the great people of Mexica - past, present and future". This is how the Coachella Wall begins and it truly delivers.

To see this masterpiece of Mexican history, travel to Coachella and find the Dateland Park on Shady Lane. Across the street you will see this incredible work of art/history.

To read more about this mural masterpiece check out this link: 
http://coachellaunincorporated.org/2012/01/20/mural-project-beautifying-coachella/