Murals of Zacatlan

“Art can change the face of a town and the lives of the people who worked on it, in it.”
Julia Zagar, Magic Gardens, Philadelphia

Zacatlan’s Pantheon, the city cemetery, dates from colonial times and is hedged in by a rough stone retaining wall on three sides, plus there is an adjacent tunnel road. The entire wall measures 908 feet, the longest, uninterrupted segment is 285 feet long and parallels the promenade and overlooks the Jigueros (Goldfinch) Gorge and Tres Marías Waterfall.

This drab wall became an inspiration, an international community project, by the public for the public, a canvas for mosaic-tile artists to honor Zacatlan, its people, town folks and agrarians, and to record Zacatlan’s history, culture and beliefs.

Artists were trained, volunteers accepted, materials donated and the municipality, under Mayor Lic. Marcos Flores Morales, prepared the wall and relocated streetlights and trees. Themes were suggested and discussed. Honoring Mexico’s people, traditions and corn, Mexico’s staple of life and cuisine, was the start. The mural wall featured “Apples” Zacatlan’s namesake and major agricultural industry, framing 16 local scenes, landscapes, important architectural gems and historic buildings. The mural wings honored Zacatlan’s 58 apple-growing communities. Final segments honored pre and post Colombian beliefs.

This 2-year extraordinary, magnificent project deserves international attention not only for its combined themes honoring the local people, town, industry, landscape, but for artistic merit and may be the “largest” or “longest” mosaic mural outside of Mexico City’s University Library’s mosaic created by Juan O’Gorman.

The project, created in Five Stages, blends into one unity.

1. Dedicated to Corn and Mexican motifs. Tunnel road, September 1 to September 12, 2014.
2. Commemorating 300 years of apple growing industry, 16 apple framed scenes honor: landscapes, natural wonders, architectural gems, pre-Hispanic and colonial ruins and features the Magic Pueblo symbol. December 7, 2014 to January 10, 2015.
3. Wings (left and right sides of the framed scenes above): dedicated to the agrarian communities, their people, animals, labor and produce. March 24, 2015 to May 15, 2015.
4. Aztec glyphs: Symbols of the Nahuatl Universe, pre-Hispanic deities and elements. October 28, 2015 to December 13, 2015.
5. Entrance, Eternal Life: 12 Biblical scenes. April 19, 2016 to October 8, 2016.

Many artists, multiple craftsmen, volunteers, material donors and financial supporters participated in creating this mosaic mural art project in five phases and each stage, although different, based on a theme and context, as a whole became part of a unity, a homage to agriculture (corn, fields, apple harvest), history (pre-Hispanic and post-Hispanic sacred images), people (town and country), nature and monuments.

Mary Carmen Olvera Trejo, a dynamo of energy, organization, inspiration and creativity suggested the major themes. Trish Metzner an American artist from Philadelphia trained the artists listed below in mosaic techniques. The final stage, the most demanding work, detailing the fascinating biblical panels at the entrance to the cemetery took the longest time and dedicated effort from twelve artists. Support for the project came from the Dick Davis Charitable Trust, Wilmette Arts Guild of Chicago and The Village of Arts and Humanities. Magic Garden, Philadelphia supported the first stage led by Isaiah Zagar.

Facts/Dimensions:

Tunnel road: curved, 24 meters right side, 41 meters left side
Pre-Hispanic: back panels, above Tunnel road, 13 meters, side-panels 28 meters
Barranca: 86 meters total length, 16 apples 61 meters, wings right side 13 meters, left side 12 meters.
Entrance wall: right side 37 meters, six panels, left side 43 meters 6 panels and angel wings (a photo opportunity for visitors)

Total retaining wall: 41+86+37+43= 207 meters in length (226 yards/ 678 feet).
Tunnel road adds 65 meters (71 yards/ 213 feet) irregular height. Total: 891 feet, mural-mosaic length.

Height varies, average 3 meters, about 10 feet tall
Apple framed scenes are 1.5 meters by 1.5 meters, about 5 feet by 5 feet.

Eternal Life, entrance façade: Twelve biblical scenes and the artists:

1. Creation: Erika Berra Simoni and Oswaldo Olvera Trejo  
2. The Annunciation: Miguel Díaz Guerrero and Toñita Hernández Hernández  
3. Nativity: Mary Carmen Olvera, Manuel Aldana, Bernardino Leon, Juvenal Villordo and Zefe Cruz Pérez  
4. Jesus, Son of Joseph the Carpenter, Master and Companion: Trish Metzner and Jorge Gutiérrez Ordóñez
5. Adam and Eve in Paradise: Zefe Cruz Pérez and Miriam Barrios Martínez
6. The Raising of Lazarus: Luis Enrique “Güicho” Olvera and Raul Sanchez Marchena  
7. Crucifixion: Mary Carmen Olvera Trejo, Manuel Aldana, Bernardino Villordo León and Juvenal Cruz Pérez  
8. The Resurrection: Zefe Cruz Pérez and Miriam Barrios Martínez
9. Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene: Trish Metzner and Jorge Gutiérrez Ordóñez
10. Ascension of Jesus: Miguel Díaz Guerrero and Toñita Hernández Hernández
11. The Resurrection of the Dead: Erika Olvera Berra Simoni and Oswaldo Trejo
12. Angel of the Apocalypse: Raul Sanchez Marchena and Luis Enrique “Güicho” Olvera Candelario

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