Mural Unveiling & Celebration on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 11am
Years ago, involving the public in planning, designing and production of a mural was central to the process of creating it. Most murals nowadays here and across the country skip that important step; one that can be crucial to a mural’s overall success in strengthening and empowering a community.
That’s why Fresh Arts tapped artist and local activist Jesse E. Rodriguez to facilitate public outreach workshops to ensure that a new mural now being painted in Houston’s Magnolia Park at Edison Middle School reflected its population that is 97% Hispanic. It’s also why artist José Arredondo (known as “Meenr”) – born in Mexico and raised in Houston — was selected to design and produce the mural.
Through a month-long series of public meetings and school visits, input for the mural was solicited by Rodriguez and Arredondo from students, parents, faculty, school alumni, and other residents. The final visual narrative of the mural depicts local youth, neighborhood landmarks, and symbols of the community’s past, present, and future.
“Magnolia Park is Houston’s oldest Hispanic community,” said Rodriguez, an Edison alumnus. “We have a rich history of art and culture, and I was honored with the opportunity to commemorate that in a lasting way. No matter how much the neighborhood changes, people can still feel connected through art.” Known as “Magnolia Grown” because of his advocacy and having grown up in Magnolia Park, Rodriguez is also a co-founder of the nonprofit Magnolia Park Arts & Community, which organized the mural with Fresh Arts through the generous support of Port Houston.
At 150 feet wide x 35 feet high, the yet-untitled mural will be the largest of its kind in Magnolia Park. Near completion, the mural is located on an exterior wall of Edison Middle School that faces S. Sgt. Macario Garcia Drive (6901 Avenue I, Houston, TX 77011).
ATTEND THE MURAL UNVEILING & CELEBRATION! Meet Arredondo, Rodriguez, and others from Fresh Arts, Magnolia Park Arts & Community, and Port Houston during the mural unveiling and celebration at Edison Middle School on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 11am. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees can take photos in front of the completed mural and refreshments will be provided.
Edison, the only HISD middle school in Magnolia Park, was first built in 1925 and has served as an anchor to generations of Magnolia Park residents spanning nearly 100 years. The collaborative project was made possible through the generous support of Port Houston’s Community Grants Program, a community outreach initiative focused on investing resources into meaningful projects and programs that enhance local communities.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: José Arredondo, known as “Meenr,” is a multi-disciplinary artist who specializes in large-scale murals and fine art paintings. Born in Mexico and raised in Houston, he gathers inspiration from local culture, his Mexican heritage, and his world travels. For more than 20 years, Meenr has worked as a fulltime artist in Texas, but his projects span the nation. His art is in private collections and his commercial clients include NFL, RedBull, Kroger, and KHOU-TV. Follow him on Instagram @meenr_one.
FRESH ARTS is a nonprofit organization that empowers local artists through programs that build knowledge, amplify resources, and connect communities through art. Learn more at www.fresharts.org.
MAGNOLIA PARK ARTS & COMMUNITY (MPAC) is a grassroots nonprofit founded by artist and local activist Jesse E. Rodriguez to engage the underserved Latino neighborhood of Magnolia Park in Houston, Texas by providing inclusive arts and culture programs and community support. MPAC was recently awarded $200,000 from Houston Endowment. Find out how to support the community at www.magnoliaparkarts.org.
