CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Whether you're taking a stroll through downtown Corpus Christi or driving through your hometown's main street, there is likely some form of art that a local artist created in hopes of making a space for peace, joy or perhaps even a message.
Maybe that's in the form of a mural that's taken over a blank wall in town or a storefront window, inviting community members to walk through the doors and support a local business.
You may know the murals or paintings in your community, but do you know the artist behind them?
In continuing our Hispanic Heritage Month coverage at 3News, we sought out some of those artists who are proudly celebrating a piece of their culture through their craft.
Monica Marie Garcia:
Monica Marie Garcia is a Coastal Bend native who knew at a young age she wanted to be an artist.
"I always admired muralists, always admired window painters and it’s something I get to do as an artist, as a creative and it does mean a lot to me because I get to leave something behind in the community," Garcia said.
"I get to leave things for people to see and take pictures of and be a part of."
Celebrating culture through art is something deeply meaningful for Garcia, as she says it helps share a story that many may be able to relate to and see themselves in.
"Celebrate something that is important to us - our pride, the colors, the food, the fun that we have just celebrating - all that means a lot to me and being able to share that with everybody instead of having to hide it is really fantastic."
It's important to leave behind something for fellow community members to enjoy, but also local youth!
Garcia is one of the several artists with the Antonio E. Garcia Arts & Education Center looking to lift up the next generation of young creatives. She along with fellow local artist, Mayra Zamora, help guide students who come to the center tap into their creative side.
Mayra Zamora:
Along with the impressive installation - made of 96 self-portraits of the local students - that welcomes you into the Garcia Center, you'll also see a new mural at Garcia Center. This one in honor of who the center is named after: Antonio E. Garcia himself, nicknamed the 'Michelangelo' and 'God father of South Texas.'
Alongside artist, Eugene Soliz, Zamora says the project began in 2021 and was completed this year in celebration of the center's 25th anniversary.
"It's the first thing you’re going to see as you walk into the center. We want the young kids asking, who is that man? Or just the people coming in, who is that? That way, we can open up a conversation because unfortunately Mr. Garcia is getting lost in art history," explained Zamora.
"We wanted to take very iconic pieces of Mr. Garcia and put it in to the composition. We had permission from his daughter, Rosa Garcia, who told us to not necessarily copy it, but be inspired by Mr. Garcia because he himself was an educator just like me."
For Zamora, it's important that young Latino students not only see the stories of their culture shared through facets like art history, but it's also important that they continue to share those stories, which is why she aims to inspire the up and coming artists of tomorrow.
"Being proud of my cultura, specifically being Chicana," Zamora said.
"I'm very proud of my roots and I think it comes across in not only my personality, but also in my artwork and because I’m so proud, the next generation coming up, they are proud of their roots as well - whatever ethnic group they are apart of."
Lori Santos:
If you take a quick road trip to Freer, chances are you're likely to see some colorful works of art across town, complete with a signature "#LolaHolla" in the corner.
That's how you know it was created by Lori Santos of Freer, who loves incorporating her community pride into her work, but loves it even more when she sees the reaction from fellow residents.
"'I want your art on my windows, I love your art!' And I appreciate that! It makes me happy!" Santos said.
"In Freer, I like doing it for the kids because the kids like see me and they’re like 'oh my god! It’s the girl that paints!'"
Santos' artwork can bee seen on the storefronts of local businesses, school buildings and even on the scales of the iconic giant rattler that welcomes you into town, which she shared was quite the challenge.
"I've been doing it [art] for a long time, but everything got serious after the rattlesnake," Santos explained how she used cardboard to help bring new life to the snake's scales.
"I figured out the scales and that was the hardest part because I took that snake on five years ago as a challenge. I didn't charge for it - I just wanted to do it to see if could do it and I failed miserably. I would look at that thing everyday while driving to Alice when I worked at Chili’s, I would just look at it and then one day I just said, 'you know what? I'm gonna do it,' and I figured out the scales!"
Santos says she appreciates her family, community, the district and local businesses who've continued to support her artistic endeavors, which have even made their way to Corpus Christi, one of those being just outside of the Barrio restaurant off of Saratoga.
Jimmy Peña:
Jimmy Peña has been a member of K Space Contemporary since 1988. It's there he has found a community that not only encourages him, but inspires him to continuously create.
Peña shared he's been making art since he was a child, a passion that stayed with him through adulthood.
A new mural downtown was brought to life by a group of students with K Space Contemporary on the walls of a downtown business, but it started with a canvas drawing, and before that: a night at the nearby laundry mat.
"One day, my wife and I were doing laundry at the laundry mat and I stepped outside for a little while and I happened to be standing outside of the building which had a faded Coca Cola advertisement," said Peña who instantly began thinking of an idea for a new mural.
"It occurred to me, what if Diego Rivera is alive in my imagination? And he came by to do his laundry with some of the characters from his murals? And there’s Frida Kahlo in the back, and so they’re just doing their laundry."
Some of the Diego Rivera pieces that are featured include: the Flower Seller, the swimmer from Pan American Unity mural, workers from the Detroit Industry murals, and of course, Frida.
"Everyone’s just doing their thing as we are!"
Isabella Carrasco:
Isabella Carrasco is also a homegrown artist. She began working on windows in 2018, and is now in her second year of creating murals. For Carrasco, it's rewarding to see her art flourish in places where others too can enjoy it.
"I’ve always had my home full of art, and it’s a different kind of rewarding that you get to bring some color into someone else’s space, where the public can also enjoy it," Carrasco said.
Outside of Hybrid Records in Downtown Corpus Christi is where you'll find one of Carrasco's works: a mural of Esteban "Steve" Jordan.
"He [Esteban] is what they call the Jimi Hendrix of the accordion. He did a lot of ground-breaking stuff with the accordion, did a lot of jazz influence in Tejano music with his accordion so it was just a perfect fit for someone in our area whose music is legendary, Grammy-nominated albums," said Carrasco.
For Carrasco as well, it's been important to showcase a pride through her talent that celebrates culture and heritage.
"Showing our culture, showing what we can bring visually -- how much it benefits the area," said Carrasco.
"Embracing our culture and embracing what the people before us have offered and everything we have to offer."
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