JACKSON, Wyo. — A new mural will soon go up in the Garaman Tunnel underpass, created by Jackson Hole High School students to celebrate the relationship between sister cities Jackson, WY and Tlaxcala, Mexico.
This fall, thirty-five high school students contributed to the new mural project, as part of a “Spanish Through Art” class taught by Gabriel Lopez. In this upper-level Spanish language class, students develop their Spanish skills by learning about Mexican art and creating a work of art at the end of every thematic unit.
Over the last thirty years, many people from the Tlaxcala state have emigrated to Jackson and the surrounding region. JH Public Art explains that the mural depicts the richness of Tlaxcala, which is located east of Mexico City at approximately 7,000 feet above sea level.
Students studied the history of the region and selected elements to represent local plantlife, folk art and dance, significant Olmec-Xicalanca archaeological sites, historical buildings from the town of San Simeon, and two nearby volcanoes Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl. This mural – at 76 feet in length – was a large undertaking, and teacher Gabriel Lopez notes: “I knew it was going to be a challenge but I was more excited for my students to see that they are capable of accomplishing big things.”
All are invited to the unveiling of the mural -titled “Tlaxcala,” this Friday, Nov. 18, at 4 p.m. Attendees can enjoy cider and cookies in Garaman Park (rain or shine) and join the participating students and teacher Gabriel Lopez for an official ribbon cutting with Jackson’s Mayor Hailey Morton Levinson at 4:15 p.m.
