Artists from across the United States and Canada joined forces to participate in a celebration of creativity and community at the third annual Los Muros on Main: Midvale City Mural Festival on June 8. 

Visitors to the festival could watch artists create their work in real-time and talk to the muralists about their inspiration, background and contribution to Main Street. Amir Santiago aka Muta Vision was excited to be invited to his first mural festival at the Midvale event. His painting of “Guabancex” is a nod to the storm and chaos deity of Taino mythology.

In an Instagram post, Santiago said, “I chose to paint in metaphor of the winds of my culture, home, and upbringing, allowing me to take art all across the states and hopefully world. At the same time, I also thought of my mother and all of the strong women who had raised me with their ferocity and strength, allowing this to also become a small tribute
to them.”

Santiago was one of nine muralists who added their contributions to the collection of murals on Midvale’s Main Street, transforming the area into an open-air gallery with walls used as canvases for large-
scale artwork. 

Along with the murals, Bohemian Brewery hosted a beer garden featuring local handcrafted brews, food trucks offered a variety of international dishes and the vendor marketplace showcased local artisans. DJ Soul Pause played music during the event and a free concert featuring the David Bowie Tribute Band, Major Tom & The Moonboys was held that evening.

Visitors to the event also got a first look at the Midvale Art House, a community art studio open to the public for hosting creative activities. The Art House features an indoor mural painted by Ximena Jimenez, an acclaimed muralist from Bogota, Columbia. To learn more about the murals, visit
EngageMidvale.com. λ