"El Nuevo Camino:
La Alianza de Fe,
Amor y Paz"
2009
Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
17' height x 180' width
The U.S. Consulate selected me for the second time to conduct a series of workshops on urban art and recovery of public spaces, this time in Juarez, Mexico. In 2006, many communities in Juarez, Mexico lost their homes, family members and possessions in a violent flood. FECHAC, a privately funded foundation in Juarez, rallied together to build a channel of 2.2 kilometers that would protect the community from future floods. This channel called Arroyo del Indio was set up for the community to use and claim as their own space. During my two week residency, I conducted four intense community building workshops with local artists and community leaders. Fellow member of Las Gallas and theater artist, Julia Lopez conducted writing workshops that informed the content of the collaborative mural design. Over 80 volunteers- college students, working artists, members of artist collectives, self-taught artists (graffiti artists), teen parents, parents, grandparents, children and staff members from FECHAC- ranging from ages 3-65 came to paint together.
The U.S. Consulate selected me for the second time to conduct a series of workshops on urban art and recovery of public spaces, this time in Juarez, Mexico. In 2006, many communities in Juarez, Mexico lost their homes, family members and possessions in a violent flood. FECHAC, a privately funded foundation in Juarez, rallied together to build a channel of 2.2 kilometers that would protect the community from future floods. This channel called Arroyo del Indio was set up for the community to use and claim as their own space.
During my two week residency, I conducted four intense community building workshops with local artists and community leaders. Fellow member of Las Gallas and theater artist, Julia Lopez conducted writing workshops that informed the content of the collaborative mural design. Over 80 volunteers- college students, working artists, members of artist collectives, self-taught artists (graffiti artists), teen parents, parents, grandparents, children and staff members from FECHAC- ranging from ages 3-65 came to paint together.
Click on images to view details
All images and content Copyright 2010 Michelle Angela Ortiz. All Rights Reserved.
"This We Believe,
City-Wide Mural"
Location TBA
Philadelphia, Pa
30' height x 105' width
Centered around the theme "This We Believe," this Mural Arts initiative provided an opportunity for people throughout the city to share what they believe about Philadelphia. Community forums held and facilitated in neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia, and attended by two teams of artists, gave voice to the audiences. The two teams of artists listened, researched and interpreted what they heard and distilled their responses in these two mural designs. Our team consisting of Eric Okdeh, Kien Ngyuen and myself won the city-wide competition. The finished mural, painted on over 2500 sq. feet of cloth, was temporarily installed in 30th Street Station and then at the Gallery at Market East. Our mural design evokes an awareness of our city's history through archival photographs, poetry and personal stories from everyday people that live in the city. Our goal was to portray nostalgia and memory along with the evolving nature of the people and neighborhoods. The design shows visions of history, industry, identity, diversity, community, social activism, struggle, survival and progress that are relevant to the the Philadelphia experience. Overall, we reflected the triumphs and hardships that make Philadelphians unique and resilient.
Listen to the community stories
Play the video to see the work in progress
"Vota Mi Gente"
Latinos for Obama
2008
2728 Hope Street
Philadelphia, PA
15' height x 28' width
The Obama Campaign in the Latino community asked me to create a mural of Obama to encourage the Latino community to vote. I created this mural in four days, guerrilla muraling, with the help of volunteers and the community of Hope Street in Philadelphia. This project was definitely a collaborative project. More than 50 volunteers helped paint and clean the abandoned lot where there mural is painted. This mural is a documentation of this historic moment.
Mural Map
"Mama Hanua"
(Mothers of the Earth)
Fiji Arts Council, Suva, Fiji
10' height x 25' width
Through the Fiji Arts Council and the United States Embassy, I conducted a residency with the Fijian community during the First Annual Wasawasa Festival of the Oceans in Suva, Fiji. The Wasawasa Festival of Oceans is a weeklong festival of artistic activities developed and created by Fijian youth, artists, organizational partners and members of the community. I created with community members the mural entitled Mama Hanua was created in six days during the Wasawasa festival of Oceans at Thurston Gardens/ Fiji Museum. Through mural art programmes and processes, the goal was to introduce a new tool for community awareness campaigns on social and environmental issues that impact the community.
"Girl Scouts Mural"
2007
Broad and Callowhill Streets,
60' height x 40' width
This mural commemorates the 95th anniversary of the Girl Scouts. The design is a combination of ideas from many troops that participated in submitting their concepts for the design. The mural design depicts the stages of a Girl Scout. Past and present images of Girl Scouts were used in the design. A total of 450 girl scouts participated in the painting of the mural.
This mural commemorates the 95th anniversary of the Girl Scouts. The design is a combination of ideas from many troops that participated in submitting their concepts for the design. The mural design depicts the stages of a Girl Scout.
Past and present images of Girl Scouts were used in the design. A total of 450 girl scouts participated in the painting of the mural.
"Seeing Our Voices,
Signs of Germantown"
Germantown Avenue and
Aramat Street, Philadelphia, PA
30' height x 130' width
The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf was the first school created for Deaf children in the United States. The mural represents both hearing and Deaf people interacting with each other. The center image depicts a grandmother and a grandson from a family that has been in the community more than 30 years, both of which are Deaf. The mural includes symbols of sign language that represent progress, freedom, community, unity, brotherhood and history.
"Reflecting Rhythms"
12th & Fitzwater Streets,
Philadelphia, Pa.
40' height x 60' width
This mural represents African-American jazz musicians from Philadelphia that have left an impact on jazz history. Images include portraits of Ethel Waters (who was a jazz singer that created the first jazz record label for African Americans called Black Swan) as well as John Coltrane, Lee Morgan, Shirley Scott, Mickey Roker, and others that were influential in Philadelphia's jazz history. Co-designed with artist Henry Bermudez.
"Life Reflects Nature:
Memories of the Past,
Traditions of the Present"
2005
5th Street and Allegheny Avenue,
25' height x 200' width
Members of the Mann Older Adult Center, most of who immigrated to Philadelphia from places such as Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, The Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas, shared their stories and memories connected to nature. These stories included letters written to their families back home, memories of working the land with their fathers, remembering the voices of their grandparents, remembering the scent of tropical flowers and the sound of the ocean. The stories were combined and presented in the design as a narrative that connected both the memory and the traditions that they continue here in Philadelphia. Co-designed with artist Jose Ali Paz.
"Bridging Communities,
Embracing Change"
2004
6th and Chew Street,
Allentown, PA
40' Height x 56' Width
I was commissioned by the Lehigh Valley Mural Project to design and create this mural in Allentown, Pennsylvania. I conducted interviews with members of the neighborhood and collected images that are familiar to the community. The mural celebrates unity, history and the diversity that exists in the community. Assistant: Matt Halm
I was commissioned by the Lehigh Valley Mural Project to design and create this mural in Allentown, Pennsylvania. I conducted interviews with members of the neighborhood and collected images that are familiar to the community. The mural celebrates unity, history and the diversity that exists in the community.
Assistant: Matt Halm
"The Doors of Destiny
Are in Your Hands"
American and Somerset Streets,
30' height x 128' width
I worked with youth from a truancy program in North Philadelphia at Congreso de Latinos Unidos. I facilitated sessions with the children in developing the content of the mural and the messages that were going to be conveyed in the mural. The wall itself had three doorways, so I used this project to investigate the symbolism of doors. We discussed how an individual has the power to close the door to negative situations or open them to progress and opportunity. We created a design in which three students from the class volunteered to model for the mural, the first representing childhood memories, the center student pressing down on a target to represent challenges of being an inner-city youth and the final door represents a bridge to the future. Assistant: Jose Ali Paz
I worked with youth from a truancy program in North Philadelphia at Congreso de Latinos Unidos. I facilitated sessions with the children in developing the content of the mural and the messages that were going to be conveyed in the mural. The wall itself had three doorways, so I used this project to investigate the symbolism of doors. We discussed how an individual has the power to close the door to negative situations or open them to progress and opportunity. We created a design in which three students from the class volunteered to model for the mural, the first representing childhood memories, the center student pressing down on a target to represent challenges of being an inner-city youth and the final door represents a bridge to the future.
Assistant: Jose Ali Paz
"Madre de Mi Corazón"
2010
Mixed Media Print
48" height x 72" width
"Lleno de Luz y Lucha"
"El Niño Consentido"
"Marcadas"
36" height x 48" width
"Antes de Llegar"
Litho Print
14" height x 12" width
"Entregado"
16" height x 14" width
"Mundo de Abuelo"
"La Madre, La Hija y El Espiritu Buscando"
Acrylic on Wood Panels
"La Huellas del Tiempo"
Acrylic on Wood
24" height x 24" width
"Dayana"
2006
12" in diameter
"India Blanca"
Acrylic on Paper
20" height x 18" width
Community Arts Education
For over ten years, I have worked with various communities as a community arts educator. I have trained adults and community leaders along with creating works with children of all ages in the United States and abroad. I have developed in-depth curriculum that bridges communities. My main goal is create a genuine exchange where arts is used a tool for communication, awareness, empowerment and education. Experience:- Creating arts-based curriculum based on specific themes and social issues- Training artists, community leaders, activists in utilizing arts for social change through transforming spaces - Developing programs for professional development of teaching artists- Coordinating and leading community arts and cultural exchange travel abroad programs for teens and adults- Non-profit arts consultant to organizations and arts collectives- Guest speaker presenting talks related to arts for social change and public art.
For over ten years, I have worked with various communities as a community arts educator. I have trained adults and community leaders along with creating works with children of all ages in the United States and abroad. I have developed in-depth curriculum that bridges communities. My main goal is create a genuine exchange where arts is used a tool for communication, awareness, empowerment and education.
Experience:
- Creating arts-based curriculum based on specific themes and social issues
- Training artists, community leaders, activists in utilizing arts for social change through transforming spaces
- Developing programs for professional development of teaching artists
- Coordinating and leading community arts and cultural exchange travel abroad programs for teens and adults
- Non-profit arts consultant to organizations and arts collectives
- Guest speaker presenting talks related to arts for social change and public art.
Sample Lessons
Current Projects
El Viaje
The project El Viaje, created by artists Nora Hiriart Litz and Michelle Angela Ortiz, uses the arts to bring awareness of the real struggles of the rising immigrant Mexican community in South Philadelphia as well as to give the community a voice and a space to tell their stories. Click hereto view the El Viaje blog.
Journeys South
Journeys South is an art project supported by the Mural Arts Program that spans four different places in South Philadelphia. Through this project, artists Michelle Angela Ortiz and Tony Rocco, will explore the movement of people, spaces and the shifting of memory in the Italian Market.
The artists are interviewing storekeepers and neighbors. In the end, the artists will create public works of art that represent the stories collected. These works of art will be installed in various spaces along the Italian Market in September/ October 2010.
Click here to view the Journeys South blog.
