The wall along the road going up to La Cruz’s lookout point is now decorated with images that represent the marine species that are part of that Guanacaste community’s treasure.
The artistic group Lxs Rurales got the people of Santa Cruz involved in creating a 30-meter (98-foot) mural on a wall belonging to the waste collection center. A blank gray wall was the ideal canvas to remind La Cruz and its visitors of the marine treasure that lies beneath the coast’s turquoise waters, which can be seen from the lookout point.
The roosterfish, the humpback whale and the elusive catshark are some of the species that refresh the urban landscape for those who leave neighborhoods such as El Jobo and Soley daily. It’s about bringing the ocean to the street, explained Ruth Bonilla and Mario Cárdenas, artists in charge of the initiative.
It’s an area that felt lonely. Because of the type of colors we use, the space stops feeling so dead, so dark. Adding an image is a way to bring the area alive, and the community gains from that,” explained Ruth Bonilla, who is originally from La Cruz. Bonilla said that she has a special bond with the ocean thanks to her father, a fisherman from La Cruz.
The art project took a month of planning and five entire days of painting with a variety of paint brushes, acrylic paint and spray cans. Neighbors and youth from the area’s Guides and Scouts pitched in to prepare the wall and create the artwork’s general design. The initiative received ₡3 million (about $5,800) in funding from Parque La Libertad and the Ministry of Culture and Youth, and also had support from the Municipality of La Cruz.
Lxs Rurales transformed the appearance of a wall at La Cruz’s waste collection center. About 30 people from the community helped paint the mural. Photo:Ari Muñoz
From the point of view of those who pass through that part of La Cruz, the wall’s dimensions (2.5 meters, or 8 feet, high and 30 meters, or 98 feet, wide) give a sense of motion to the image. “I was impressed by the possibility of painting species of this size– we made a whole school and that reminded me of being on the coast and seeing how the fish surround you,” commented Mario Cárdenas.
The mural is an expression that reminds all of us that we have to protect Guanacaste’s marine biodiversity. “La Cruz has a gorgeous coastline that we can lose if we are careless,” Cárdenas emphasized.
With this work, the artistic group also wants to reclaim art as a means of expression that is accessible to the public. Lxs Rurales has changed the look of other areas for communities in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Peru and Honduras.
By bringing the image to public spaces, we allow it to be accessible to all people. The mural breaks down inequalities with the community,” added Ruth Bonilla.
You can follow Lxs Rurales’ work on their Instagram profile.
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