Artists Aim to Make Mexico Border Fence 'Beautiful' Jean Guerrero - KBPS
go to original December 31, 2016

Enrique Chiu discusses his community mural at the border fence in Tijuana (Jean Guerrero/KBPS)

The U.S.-Mexico border fence has become a canvas for artists from both countries.

Tijuana muralist Enrique Chiu is leading a binational effort to create a mural that will stretch for more than a mile on the south side of the border fence. That would make it one of Mexico's longest murals.

"It was a rusty fence, a fence full of, I don't know, apathy, sadness," Chiu said. "For years, it was seen as something that divided."

He said he wants to transform the fence — a conglomeration of steel bars, corrugated steel plates, steel mesh — into a beautiful, inspiring symbol of unity.



“We want to send a message of peace, of kinship, of unity between the two nations," Chiu said.

Every weekend, volunteers spread colorful paints on the fence to create uplifting natural scenery, such as butterflies and flowers, and positive words such as "love" and "empathy."

Chiu is calling the community project, "El Mural de la Hermandad," or the mural of brotherhood and sisterhood. He said hundreds of people have participated since the project started on Dec. 1, and that he plans to lead groups of painters every Saturday and Sunday through April 2.

He said he isn't worried about President-elect Donald Trump's plans to replace the existing fence with a larger wall.

"If they build the wall, it's more canvas for us," Chiu said. "I believe we'll paint that one, too."

Read the rest at KBPS

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