Maybe Something Beautiful – a mural comes to our town

Sometimes you come across a book that is so perfect that you want to share it with everyone you know. This inspiring picture book is the one that I want to put in the hands of every child and the adults who love them.

Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood
by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell (authors) and Rafael Lopez (illustrator)
Houghton, Mifflin, and Harcourt 2016  picture book grades k-3

 

Based on the story of the creation of the Urban Art Trail in San Diego, we meet a young artist named Mira, whose heartfelt drawings bring color to her gray surroundings.

When a muralist arrives and ponders a wall, she asks him what he sees. “Maybe something beautiful,” he answers.

He brings his paints, brushes, and enthusiasm and before long, the entire community is painting together in what becomes a joy-filled, musical, dancing celebration. Everyone is included – people of all cultures and races, old and young, become artists. Even the policeman joins in. Artist Rafael Lopez uses bold colors in his illustrations that swirl and flow making readers happy and inspired.

Who wouldn’t want to be part of a celebration like this?

Well… you can!

Thanks to Fresno State’s Arne Nixon Center and a number of local community groups including REFORMA del Valle Central, Rafael Lopez designed a mural for Fresno. He came last fall and shared the story of Make Something Beautiful and his vision to create a beautiful mural here in the Central Valley. You can read more about Rafael Lopez and Make something Beautiful here.

Rafael Lopez has been here this past week with a team of local muralists. On Saturday, the community is invited to help finish the mural and join in a celebration with music, food, dancing, poetry, and much more.

On Tuesday, I stopped by to watch the transformation of a blank wall. Here is Tuesday’s view from the street:

The mural plan was taped to the wall

Lots of paint is needed

On Thursday, Sandra Rios Balderrama, our inspiring REFORMA del Valle Central president, captured these beautiful images of the muralists at work:

 

 

Here is the visionary artist, Rafael Lopez, who is showing us that we can all be artists.

All are welcome to come on Saturday, May 11th to the corner of Tulare and Cedar Avenues in Fresno, California from 9:00 until 3:00 to help finish the mural.

And if you find yourself on a field trip in California’s Central Valley, take the time to visit the mural.