Xeppe, Desert, y la Gente

Xeppe, Desert, y la Gente

Sea (Comcaac), Desert (English), and the People (Spanish)

This mural represents the mission and vision of the Kino Bay Center for Cultural and Ecological Studies.  Based on themes of environmental conservation and research, education, and outreach, the mural reflects the cultural and biological diversity of the Midriff Island region, while focusing specifically on priority species and ecosystems, cultural interactions, and complex conservation challenges.

Kino Bay Center Mission Statement: Protecting priority species and habitats through integrated application of science, education, information exchange, and community participation

Kino Bay Center Vision Statement: Promoting and modeling collaborations between people from different cultures and institutions to co-create solutions to complex conservation challenges

The mural depicts, from left to right:

Collared Lizards, Crotaphytus dickersonae

Double-crested Cormorants, Phalacrocorax auritus

Fin Whale, Balaenoptera physalus (vertebrae)

American Oyster Catchers, Haematopus palliate

Red Mangrove, Rhizophora mangle

Reddish Egret, Egretta rufescens

Fin Whale, Balaenoptera physalus (blow)

Sperm Whale, Physeter macrocephalus (fluke)

Short-finned Pilot Whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus (dorsal fin)

Brown Pelicans, Pelecanus occidentalis

Red-billed Tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus

Leatherback Sea Turtle, Dermochelys coriacea

Fin Whale, Balaenoptera physalus

Nudibranchs, Chromodoris norrisi & Elysia diomedea

Manta Ray, Manta birostris

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Gulf Sun Star, Heliaster kubiniji Xantus

Sierra Mackerel, Scomberomorus sierra

Fishhook Barrel Cactus, Ferocactus wislizeni

Desert Bighorn Sheep, Ovis canadensis nelsoni

Cardon Cactus, Pachycereus pringlei

Spiny-tailed Iguana, Ctenosaura similis

San Esteban Chuckwalla, Sauromalus varius

Agave, Agave americana

The merging of visual elements in the mural is intended to represent the integration and co-creation that is fundamental to the philosophy and practice of the Kino Bay Center.   Our intention is that this mural will have many interpretations; our hope is that it will initiate questions and conversations about relationships amongst the natural environment, culture and community.

Xeppe, Desert, y la Gente was designed and painted by Prescott College’s Public Art: Mural Painting course in May 2012.  Instructor: Julie Comnick Students: Claire Andreason, Lauren Brule, Celia Chatham, Mara Clifton, Sarah Cupka, Andi DeRivera, Maria Doffing, Audrey Hamann, Chelsea Phillips, and Mikial Tolmosoff

And so it is Done – But what is its name?

Our piece is done and all are satisfied, until we realized it had no name! We had so often referred to it as “The Mural” that that was its proper title.  That would not work though since all magnificent murals had proper titles and surely our mural is magnificent!

To set this blunder right we wished to have input from the community that would be living with this mural for however long it lasted. During our celebration and presentation of the mural to the community we erected a board for suggestions to be written on. Then to narrow the amount of choices we asked that people star the names they favored the most.

We then took the list on the road with us to choose the best of the best as a class.

If you are curious as to the decision we made you will have to read to the end of this blog where I will post the mural statement that will be headed with our final choice!

Our Big Reveal!

The evening of June third found us in the courtyard eagerly waiting to celebrate our accomplishment with the fellows and anyone else who showed up from the community. So we waited. Patiently at first, until we found out there was a piñata for us to swing at. Our patience was then interrupted by the excitement such a prospect brought us. However we endured and soon enough all had gathered.  So the piñata was broken, the mural admired and the Marvelous Miss Mara presented a short video that documented our time spent with a bland wall as we turned it into a much prettier wall.  All together the night was enjoyed by many and it allowed for a proper feeling of closer to our work.

Before we all turned in for the night we were intercepted by the fellows who wished to thank us and express just how much the process we went through as well as the mural itself, meant to them.

While I cannot speak for the entire class I must say that was the high point of this trip for me.

A Time to Varnish

Our last step in this epic adventure is upon us! Together we have gone though all the steps needed to create an image suitable for this wall that includes all that the Prescott College Kino Bay Center represents. We toughed out the sepia toned under painting, braved the earth toned primaries to create vibrant creatures and people and we weathered the storm of critiques from those around us as well as from those within our group.

Now our final step is clear! We must simply apply the varnish and let it dry so that we can leave our efforts on the wall shiny and protected. 

Final Day of Painting – Take Two!

It has finally happened. Our schedule hath runneth over and we are a day behind where we had wanted to be. However due to some misunderstandings with the fellows and their schedules around the presentation of our final product it actually works out okay. Not ideal but we now have an extra day to finish up.  Now we paint to the deadline!

 VIOLA!! It is done!! 

Two Days to Go

Today and tomorrow are our last days to get paint up on the wall. Friday brings a sealant glaze and then all that is left to do is to unveil the results of our efforts. We’re all feeling the pressure, especially our glorious TA, Celia, who has barely left the wall this past week. 

Looking at the wall presently, it’s clear that we will need all the time we can squeeze out of these last two days to bring everything together and be able to present a completed mural.