Valparaíso, Chile 2026
Grateful and honored for the chance to paint this piece with poet – activist – thinker – teacher Arturo Morales at Interactive Spanish School in Valparaíso!
I took a week-long language class with Arturo, along with fellow gringos Will and Steve. We discussed music, history, and world news; we wrote a collaborative group story; we drew a cinematic storyboard using lines from one of Arturo’s poems; and we chatted about life and tried to improve our language skills, both in class and over chelas frías afterwards 🍻
At the end of the week I asked Arturo about possibly painting the empty red wall adjacent to the classroom space. He was all for it – but what to paint ?
During class Arturo’s feline friend Panchito was always in and out, asking for rubs and snacks and then racing off up the street – and thus the theme of the mural became clear.
The line of poetry is from one of Arturo’s pieces, ‘Estallido Social o Pláticas de la calle Elías’ .. he said that it refers to the moment when we choose to break free from the conventions of our surroundings and begin to search for new horizons. Arturo is always dropping bombs like this! 🤯🔥
So happy to have met this crew and share a bit of each others worlds! Gracias chicos, gracias Arturo, viva Panchito, adelante calle Elías ❤️
