By Bernardo Moreno González
Anyone who passes by, walks, or lives in Colonia Guadalupe is amazed by the colorful murals—each one expressing different emotions and aesthetics. These murals have a history, and it is important to remember it. What was the vision, the development, and finally the problems of this beautiful project in which so many artists have been able to paint the walls of the Colonia? Here is this interview.
BM: Hi Colleen. For people who are not familiar with Muros en Blanco, can you explain what it is, please?
CS: Muros en Blanco began in 2012, at my house in Colonia Guadalupe, as a series of graffiti workshops meant to bring attention to the value of legal street art in San Miguel de Allende. At the time, street art was not permitted.
In March 2013, permission was given for legal painting on the street in exchange for the promise to «make a festival and make Colonia Guadalupe an arts district.” Together with Francisco Vega (Nadie), Jesus Valenzuela (Juice), and Filip Lein (San Miguel Siempre Hermoso), we made a remarkable festival happen. It had a magical beginning. We invited the best «emerging» artists from around Mexico, many of whom are now internationally famous.
My goal, at the time, was to secure the necessary permission, and that first festival was the only thing I ever wanted to be responsible for. I am not a street artist, I am not Mexican, and I simply preferred to be a supporter making sure the artists were well taken care of while visiting San Miguel.
I also had to get the word out and help pay for the many things we needed. Twice a year until 2020 I gave my house over to the street artists. I did everything I could in my limited way. This became one of the most memorable experiences of my lifetime.
BM: This year will be the 11th year of Muros en Blanco. Would you take us through the journey and the effort required to accomplish this?
CS: Jan Roth and Roberto Gutierrez (Neo) of Graffitiworld were in charge of the Muros en Blanco project, and they contributed an immense amount of time, talent, and money over many years. Their influence brought international attention to San Miguel through a network of national and international artists and, most important, through their relationships with the artists. They knew how to do it, and they succeeded in putting San Miguel on the international map of street art. Murals were painted, with owner permission, at no cost to property owners in exchange for artistic-freedom-of-expression for the artists.
My original 2013 proposal was to paint the tagged-up walls along the Arroyo Cachinches, from Fábrica la Aurora Contemporary Art Center and all along the edge of Colonia Guadalupe transforming it to an outdoor gallery with the best of local, national, and international contemporary street artists. Murals would address water and environmental issues. The mayor’s office requested that painting first be focused within the Colonia in order to encourage a flow of visitors. After this was accomplished, the focus returned back to the arroyo.
Everything changed abruptly in 2019-2020 when community leaders determined that the murals would be painted over and there would be no more artistic freedom of expression for the artists. Unfortunately, nothing was understood about street art, street artists, or the value of the murals throughout Colonia Guadalupe. Misinformation was rampant, and there was conflict over unreasonable accusations and demands. More than 80 murals were painted over, and any new murals were to be images of historic and religious figures—which were then considered to be done on commission, and someone, not Muros en Blanco, would be required to provide all artists the payment they deserved.
Even after losing three of his family members to COVID-19, Jan Roth was ready to begin painting again, with compromises, at the arroyo. But when community leaders refused to communicate with him, Muros en Blanco called it quits—the end of an era.
BM: Now, though, the Guadalupe neighborhood is known for the graffitis. What does that make you feel?
CS: What does this make me feel? Well, I lived 10 years in Colonia Guadalupe, and it is now very popular. I feel good knowing that much of this has to do with the street art meaning the accomplishments of the Muros en Blanco project. Artists are generally the ones who bring heightened interest to a neighborhood and when gentrification follows those who did the work often move on. I moved back to El Centro in 2020. For me, the tranquility makes it easier to keep objective about a really tough experience at the end. I felt so badly for the abrupt ending to all that Jan and Neo had invested in the project working for free. And I felt a bit traumatized by every mural painted over!
In all, though, it was a unique experience with many wonderful memories. But I like where I am now. On a very happy note, during COVID-19 local artists made murals explode all over the city, and I’m sure this will continue.
BM: What is your relationship with all the graffiti artists that collaborated in Muros en Blanco?
CS: I keep in touch with a number of the artists who have come through Colonia Guadalupe over the years.
BM: Are you working on something new related to Muros en Blanco? Are we going to see something soon?
CS: I’m not very good at throwing things away. Since the very beginning in 2012, I’ve collected photos, videos, communications, magazine/news articles, and travel blogs.
Currently, I’m beginning to organize a catalogue of every mural painted in San Miguel since 2013 along with information about the artists. All along, I’ve documented how the entire project of legal street art has evolved over the years, what has been learned, and what the future might look like.
I will always be hopeful for the arroyo to come back to life. It is an excellent but unutilized and missed opportunity for the city, for Colonia Guadalupe, and for the many international visitors who appreciate quality street art. Today it looks left behind and continuously tagged. I keep envisioning a replacement for the tagging on all those waiting walls—large, vibrant, colorful murals all the way down to the last bridge before Avenida Guadalupe, just as back in 2012. I hope someone makes it happen.
