East Harlem Artists Revamp a Cultural Symbol: Dos Alas
A landmark East Harlem artwork is getting a makeover after years of wear and tear. Local artists and supporters gather weekly at the Dos Alas mural, paintbrushes in hand, to revive this emblem of Latino history.
The restoration began in September, the start of an ongoing effort to preserve cultural symbols in El Barrio, and will continue every weekend until completed, probably later this month. Luisa’s Liberation Artists Making Action (LLAMA), a new collective of Latino artists, is leading the restoration, but unpredictable weather and hectic schedules have delayed its completion.
“Most of the artists work full-time so we rely on their availability,” said Marina Ortiz, a collective member and founder of East Harlem Preservation, via email.
Dos Alas, or “two wings,” at East 105th Street and Third Avenue has represented political activism in El Barrio for 12 years. Two groups of artists, poets and musicians– Ricanstruction Netwerks and Puerto Rico Collective– originally painted it to depict two Latino activists: Ernesto “Che” Guevara and Puerto Rican nationalist Don Pedro Albizu Campos.
But harsh weather and vandalism have taken their toll. Before the restoration, the bright colors of the men’s faces and a hybrid Cuban-Puerto Rican flag had washed out, along with the men’s quotes, in Spanish, about revolution. The two white stars flanking the image didn’t shine the way they used to and the brick wall beneath it, the side of a women’s clothing shop, had become rust-stained.
In addition to refurbishing its original features, Ortiz says, the group has begun to expand the mural, adding details like quotes from contemporary Latino activists. Every week, new and continuing volunteers lend a hand.
On a recent weekend, Carlito Rovira, one of the original Dos Alas artists now directing the repainting, pauses to talk to passersby about the mural’s message. Over the years, he has worked on several political murals.
“Art is an expression,” Rovira says, describing Dos Alas as a statement “that calls for an end to the plight of the oppressed.” His love for art developed on the Lower East Side, where he grew up when it was a “haven for Barrio art.” He is now a decorative painter by trade; helping to restore murals breaks the monotony of painting houses.
Keeping new generations connected with their cultural identity can be a challenge, Rovira acknowledges; he hopes the murals remind them of their ancestors’ movements against inequality.
Tato Torres, a musician who now lives in Puerto Rico, stops by to see the project’s progress. He had just graduated from City College when he helped paint local murals in the ‘90s. Seeing the renovation brings back memories.
“We weren’t taken seriously back then; we wanted to do things that had immediate effects,” he says. He remembers purposely painting the murals without permission from building owners. Most got painted over, sometimes within a day.
“This is the only one that lasted,” Torres says. “It’s great to see that what we did actually worked.”
Xen Medina, a freelance artist and one of the volunteer crew, comes prepared for the job with a black paint-stained apron over his jeans and t-shirt. He lives in Queens, but has been coming to El Barrio since the ’70s; he’s fought to put up more murals here, but has found it hard to compete with large corporations for wall space.
“They say they don’t want anything on their walls,” he says of building owners. “Then a month later, there’s a cigarette ad up.” He hopes the murals will say something defiant about issues like gentrification.
The Dos Alas restoration has drawn a lot of attention from neighbors. Older residents, who lived through Guevara’s and Campos’ activism, pull artists aside to talk about their ideologies.
“It’s thrilling to see people stop by and engage in conversations about the mural,” says Ortiz.
“The mural is important for the history of our people,” says resident Antonio Fonseca in his native Spanish. He moved to El Barrio in 1997 and says that whether or not someone agrees with the political message, “it’s still part of Hispanic culture.”
Many onlookers have had similar reactions– but not everyone. Robert Hall, 38, has lived in the area most of his life and passes the mural every day. He isn’t thrilled about the change.
“I am a person who likes originality,” Hall says. “When you try to redo something like that, it just isn’t the same.” Its worn-out look gave it character, he adds.
Each week, musicians and poets perform at the mural site to honor El Barrio activism while the volunteers paint. On Sunday, the performers included performances by Jesus Papoleto Melendez, local poet and author, and songwriter Not4Prophet.
The artists will next tackle a mural on 110th Street and Park Avenue.