Art in the Neighborhood

Mexico was the birthplace of the 20th century "Muralist Movement" in art, and Mexico City is considered one of the best places in the world to see "street art".  Even in Alejandro's neighborhood, a working class district, there is plenty of art to be seen on the walls of buildings.  It's not the work of renowned painters, and it's not "great art", but it adds cheerful color to an ordinary neighborhood.  As in so many places, graffiti is a problem, but, for the most part, those vandals do not deface the outdoor paintings... perhaps because they themselves would aspire to doing something more artistic.

I set out with the camera that Alejandro lent me to capture some of the "street art" in the area.

The street where Alejandro and his family live

The outer walls public schools often serve as the canvas for outdoor murals.  Just steps away from Alejandro's house is an elementary school decorated with a number of paintings.

At another elementary school a few blocks away is this somewhat scary painting of... what?... a cartoon superhero?

Another wall of the same school has paintings of animals, including one which appears to depict the "white rabbit" from "Alice in Wonderland".

A wall facing a public playground has this photo-realistic painting...

and next to it this inscription: "Infancy is a marvelous stage.  There is no past, there is no future; only a present which is seen with innocence and hope."

A nearby, government operated family center has these murals.  I'm not sure what they represent, but they appear have a certain Asian influence.

This painting is probably a violation of Disney copyrights.  It's on the outside of a building that used to be a children's party center.  (In fact, some years ago Alejandro's nephew Ezra had a birthday party here.)  Unfortunately, the business did not survive the COVID pandemic.

I was surprised to see some interesting "street art" on the wall of a neglected property that is up for sale. 

 

Finally, at the entrance to an alleyway, there is this painting of St. Michael slaying a devilish dragon.