Entre los días 16 al 21 de Abril, Uriel Landeros y Daniel Anguilu viajaron a Ayotzinapa provincia de Guerrero, Mexico a pintar un mural en conmemoración a la desaparición de los 43 estudantes de la Universidad Normal Rural Isidro Burgos en septiembre 26,2014. Despúes de 7 meses la fe de estos estudiantes aun es un misterio. Los reportes oficiales del gobierno cambian frequentemente y el caso aun se mantiene como una controversia internacional.

El mural contiene la imagen de una tortuga con antenas de mariposa. Esta imagen de la tortuga fue inspirada por un tatuaje fresco que vio uno de los artistas en el brazo de clemente; el padre de uno de los estudiantes desaparecidos. Clemente nos dijo que se hizo ese tatuaje en honor a su hijo, “Para que sepa el que nunca me di por vencido”. Las comunidades artísticas de Houston, el Valle y el país se unieron para llamar la atención hacia los estudiantes desaparecidos y los esfuerzos que sus padres han realizado para descubrir la verdad acerca de sus hijos.   

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From April 16-April 21, Houston, Texas artist Uriel Landeros and Daniel Anguilu travelled to Ayotzinapa, in Guerrerro, Mexico to paint a mural at the University Normal Rural Isidro Burgos. The mural commemorates the disappearance of 43 students from the University Normal Rural Isidro Burgos September 26, 2014. 7 months later and the fate of the 43 students remains a mystery; official government accounts have changed frequently, and the case remains an international controversy.

The mural contains an image of a turtle with butterfly antennae that are constantly searching. The image of the turtle was inspired by a fresh tattoo seen by one of the artists on the arm of Clemente, father of one of the missing students. Clemente said he got the tattoo to show to his son when they find him, “To show him that we never gave up,” he said. Art communities in Houston, The Valley, and across the country have united to bring attention to the students’ disappearance and their parents’ ongoing efforts to learn the truth about what has happened to their children.

As Mexican-American artists, we can’t help but to feel an over whelming sense of involvement and express solidarity. Its time for the Mexican people to regain control of their country, to renounce the governing entities who occupy office currently; we need to make it apparent now more than ever that corruption, and idle promises will not stand. We can no longer stand and bare witness to government officials sell our children to cartels and corporations for the promise of protection and financial gain, leaving the people they vowed to protect to early graves and incomplete families.

Contributing Editor: Julie Lozano

Video Edit: Baltazar Canales