Student mural project to be unveiled July 30

The City of Yuma Parks and Recreation Department's Arts and Culture Division will officially unveil a new mural created by students in partnership with Arizona@Work. The unveiling of this summer's project, titled "Toony High Jinks" will take place on Wednesday, July 30 at 10 a.m. at Kennedy Skate Park, 24^th Street and Kennedy Lane. The brief ceremony is open to the public and free to attend.

This year's mural is a playful, comic-inspired piece featuring a cast of quirky cartoon characters racing, tumbling and zooming through a colorful landscape of waves, greenery, and bursts of action. It uses bold colors to capture a sense of motion and fun, which reflects the energy of the skate park. A close look at the mural will reveal skate-themed elements woven into the characters' adventures.

The summer mural program has produced approximately 30 murals across Yuma over 28 years. Most participants have little or no experience with art prior to joining. The program begins with two weeks of intensive training, where students learn art foundation techniques from color theory to shading. They spend the remainder of the program creating a mural that beautifies the community and lasts for years.

"The summer mural program is a powerful way to involve youth in the beautification of our city," said Arts Program Supervisor Cassandra Contreras. "Through this experience, they develop art, communication and teamwork skills, while also building a strong sense of purpose and community. What makes it especially meaningful is that the participants help inspire the mural concepts themselves. It becomes their voice on the wall."

Under the direction of Mural Instructor Lisseth Carrillo and Arizona@Work assistant Sariah Garcia, students participating in this year's mural include:

• Orlando Gutierrez
• Jesus De Loa
• Aracely Hernandez
• Eden Sweet
• Adriel Felix
• Sherman Acosta
• Isaac Pedro
• Eric Lime
• Aaden Herrera

"As the instructor, it's amazing for me to be part of a project where we give young people the opportunity to be part of something and to feel like they belong," Carrillo said. "I see so many of them in this group taking their role in the group very seriously. And as an artist, it's rewarding for me to inspire them to keep pursuing the arts, whether as a career path or just a hobby. What matters in the end is to keep art alive and accessible to our community."

"Contributing in the mural project really gave me a sense a joy for allowing us to add our own artwork onto such a significant landmark in Yuma," said participant Jesus De Loa. "I have nothing but gratitude to our bosses for making this happen and to my team who worked diligently even under this hot weather."

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