HEALING Murals with Communities
The following murals were designed and painted as art therapy projects with groups dealing with some form of trauma or feeling of alienation.
"We as Sisters Shine Together" ©2012 Ellen Silva
Size: 4' x 8', acrylic on MDO board 4' x 8', acrylic on MDO board
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with WORLD clients with HIV
Location: WORLD (Women Organized to Respond to Life-Threatening Disease), Oakland, CA
Size: 4' x 8', acrylic on MDO board 4' x 8', acrylic on MDO board
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with WORLD clients with HIV
Location: WORLD (Women Organized to Respond to Life-Threatening Disease), Oakland, CA
Narrative
In December 2011, Ellen Silva met with WORLD (Women Orgazined to Respond to Life-Threatening Disease) to schedule a 6-session healing mural project with members of support groups for HIV/Aids. The women joined together to create a mural that expresses their experiences of living with HIV/Aids.
During the first meeting with Ellen Silva, the women expressed a desire for a mural about healing and hope. They each sketched the ideas that came out of their discussion.
Ellen composed their drawings and inked in the drawing. Next came gridding the drawing, then the board. Then the women colored in their drawing to use as reference in the 2 painting sessions.
During the first meeting with Ellen Silva, the women expressed a desire for a mural about healing and hope. They each sketched the ideas that came out of their discussion.
Ellen composed their drawings and inked in the drawing. Next came gridding the drawing, then the board. Then the women colored in their drawing to use as reference in the 2 painting sessions.
"Love Everlasting" © 2012 Ellen Silva
Size: 16' x 4', acrylic on MDO board
Directed by: Ellen Silva with families and friends of Milanca and Xavier as a memorial
Client: University Village, Albany, CA
Size: 16' x 4', acrylic on MDO board
Directed by: Ellen Silva with families and friends of Milanca and Xavier as a memorial
Client: University Village, Albany, CA
Narrative
Ellen partnered with therapist Belinda Arriaga and the family and friends of Milanca and her 5-year old son Xavier to create a visual expression of their love and memories…
"Nueva Esperanza de Vivir" (A New Hope for Living) ©2011 Ellen Silva
Size: 16' x 4', acrylic on MDO board
Directed by: Ellen Silva and Belinda Arriaga
Location: Golden Gate Fields, Albany, CA
Size: 16' x 4', acrylic on MDO board
Directed by: Ellen Silva and Belinda Arriaga
Location: Golden Gate Fields, Albany, CA
NArrative
Ellen partnered with Licsensed Therapist Belinda Hernandex Arriaga to create hope and community. For seven weeks, workers at Golden Gate Fields were given the opportunity to tell their stories by collaborating on a mural that hangs in the recreation room in the stable area. Around 40 of the workers contributed. The results are impressive. Many of the workers come from a culture that inhibits talking about feelings. It was for this reason that artist Ellen Silva joined forces with Belinda Hernandez Arriaga, a licensed clinical social worker at UC Berkeley, to provide an outlet for the (mostly) Latino men who live and work at the racetrack.
The finished mural is called, "La Nueva Esperanza de Vivir," which translates as, "A New Hope for Living." The approximately 4' by 16' work was assembled from three sections. It was hung during a celebration on Monday, April 18.
Los Centzontles, a California-based Mexican band, performed for the grooms as part of the celebration of the mural's completion. More…
The finished mural is called, "La Nueva Esperanza de Vivir," which translates as, "A New Hope for Living." The approximately 4' by 16' work was assembled from three sections. It was hung during a celebration on Monday, April 18.
Los Centzontles, a California-based Mexican band, performed for the grooms as part of the celebration of the mural's completion. More…
“Sending Love to Japan” ©2011 Ellen Silva
Size: 4' x 6', acrylic on MDO Board
Directed by: Ellen Silva with residence community
Location: University Village, Albany, CA
Size: 4' x 6', acrylic on MDO Board
Directed by: Ellen Silva with residence community
Location: University Village, Albany, CA
NArrative
After the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, communities gathered together to send their love, in the form of this mural, via ship, along with many supplies to sister cities in Japan. There are symbols of love, medical help, peace and more.
"It's a Small World" ©2010 Ellen Silva
Size: 16' x 4', acrylic on MDO board
Directed by: Ellen Silva an Belinda Arriaga with 9 international families from Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indoniesia, Korea, Mexico, and Nicaragua
Location: University Village, UC Berkeley campus in Albany
Size: 16' x 4', acrylic on MDO board
Directed by: Ellen Silva an Belinda Arriaga with 9 international families from Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indoniesia, Korea, Mexico, and Nicaragua
Location: University Village, UC Berkeley campus in Albany
Narrative
In June 2010, Ellen Silva met with Belinda Hernandez Arriaga (LCSW at University Village), to schedule a 7-session mural project with teens of families of UC Berkeley students residing in University Village, Albany, CA. They together to create a mural that expresses their experience of being teenagers.
During the first meeting with Ellen Silva, they expressed a need for a mural about friendship and their roots. They eventually agreed upon a "small world" theme for the overall concept. Next they sketched the ideas that came out of their discussion. Ellen composed their drawings and they inked in the drawing. Ellen transferred the gridded drawing to mural board (below). Next the group painted.
The entire mural project took two weeks to complete, seven 5-hour sessions in all. Most of the participants (ages 5 to 50) had never painted before.
The Dedication Celebration included food brought by everyone, and music, played by Ellen and some of the families.
During the first meeting with Ellen Silva, they expressed a need for a mural about friendship and their roots. They eventually agreed upon a "small world" theme for the overall concept. Next they sketched the ideas that came out of their discussion. Ellen composed their drawings and they inked in the drawing. Ellen transferred the gridded drawing to mural board (below). Next the group painted.
The entire mural project took two weeks to complete, seven 5-hour sessions in all. Most of the participants (ages 5 to 50) had never painted before.
The Dedication Celebration included food brought by everyone, and music, played by Ellen and some of the families.
"Expressing Ourselves" ©2010 Ellen Silva
Size: 8' x 4', acrylic on MDO board
Directed by: Ellen Silva an Belinda Arriaga with teens from international families from Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indoniesia, Korea, Mexico, and Nicaragua
Location: University Village, UC Berkeley campus in Albany
Size: 8' x 4', acrylic on MDO board
Directed by: Ellen Silva an Belinda Arriaga with teens from international families from Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indoniesia, Korea, Mexico, and Nicaragua
Location: University Village, UC Berkeley campus in Albany
"Healing" ©2007 Ellen Silva
Size: 4' x 6', Acrylic on tyvek
Directed by: Ellen Silva with rehab patients
Location: Cordilleras Mental Health Services, 200 Edmonds Rd, Redwood City, CA 94062
Size: 4' x 6', Acrylic on tyvek
Directed by: Ellen Silva with rehab patients
Location: Cordilleras Mental Health Services, 200 Edmonds Rd, Redwood City, CA 94062
NArrative
Ellen co-partnered with therapists and clients in drug/alcohol rehabilitation program to compose a mural of feelings around recovery.
"Visiones de Esperanza-Visions of Hope" ©2006 Ellen Silva
Size: 16' x 4', Acrylic on MDO boards
Directed by: Ellen Silva and Belinda Arriaga
Location: Puente Resource Center, Pescadero
Size: 16' x 4', Acrylic on MDO boards
Directed by: Ellen Silva and Belinda Arriaga
Location: Puente Resource Center, Pescadero
NArrative:
Madre’s Mural: Our Journey
Ten women from Pescadero went on a journey of discovery. They have created a mural about their unique stories of pain,
immigration, acculturation, and isolation. On the other side, what came out were camaraderie, support, laughter, kinship and hope.
The women come from different experiences. For this group, this was the first time sharing their stories and expressing themselves
through art. They participated in a five-week-workshop, two-hour sessions per week led by Ellen Silva, muralist, July Ugas, art
therapist, and Belinda Arriaga, PIP coordinator at Puente Resource Center. This project is one of the many that the Madres Project,
sponsored by Bella Vista Foundation provided through out the year. The women were able to accomplish this task by having
coordinated effort of providing service to their children. The children created a mural of their own with Norka Bayley, pre-school
teacher, Norma Zavala, children program staff, and Dinora Gudino, children program staff. Also, we had a group of high school
students: Gabriela Flores, Cristina Salgado, Ricardo Cabrera and Chloe Talbot who were instrumental in having the project run
smoothly. Rita Mancera, community builder was the liaison between the staff and the parents.
We are very proud of witnessing the brave and creative work that these women accomplished. And we are looking forward to seeing
them move to the next step of their journeys, and if they let us, we will be there to see it happen.
Ten women from Pescadero went on a journey of discovery. They have created a mural about their unique stories of pain,
immigration, acculturation, and isolation. On the other side, what came out were camaraderie, support, laughter, kinship and hope.
The women come from different experiences. For this group, this was the first time sharing their stories and expressing themselves
through art. They participated in a five-week-workshop, two-hour sessions per week led by Ellen Silva, muralist, July Ugas, art
therapist, and Belinda Arriaga, PIP coordinator at Puente Resource Center. This project is one of the many that the Madres Project,
sponsored by Bella Vista Foundation provided through out the year. The women were able to accomplish this task by having
coordinated effort of providing service to their children. The children created a mural of their own with Norka Bayley, pre-school
teacher, Norma Zavala, children program staff, and Dinora Gudino, children program staff. Also, we had a group of high school
students: Gabriela Flores, Cristina Salgado, Ricardo Cabrera and Chloe Talbot who were instrumental in having the project run
smoothly. Rita Mancera, community builder was the liaison between the staff and the parents.
We are very proud of witnessing the brave and creative work that these women accomplished. And we are looking forward to seeing
them move to the next step of their journeys, and if they let us, we will be there to see it happen.
"Healing Waters” ©Ellen Silva 2005
Size: 4' x 8', acrylic on MDO Board
Directed by: Ellen Silva with teachers and parents from San Carlos Charter Learning Center
Location: Mills Peninsula Hospital, Burlingame
Size: 4' x 8', acrylic on MDO Board
Directed by: Ellen Silva with teachers and parents from San Carlos Charter Learning Center
Location: Mills Peninsula Hospital, Burlingame