ALBUQUERQUE, NM — A group of artists are bringing attention to two deadly intersections in the International District, and they’re doing it with color.
In recent years, the US Department of Transportation has released data showing that historically disadvantaged communities are often more dangerous for pedestrians. That goes for the International District in Albuquerque.
Now a group of artists are hoping to make their block safer with art.
“Art is there for that, art is there for many things, to celebrate, but also to commemorate. While this image is not directly an expression of grief, it does address the theme of grief, particularly the families who have lost people who have been hit by a car here,” said lead muralist Andrew Fearnside.
In recent years, KOB 4 has covered several fatal accidents near Expo New Mexico – most of them along Central.
“San Mateo and Central, and Louisiana and Central, are two of the most dangerous intersections for pedestrians in the city and country,” Fearnside said.
For the next month, the south lanes of Louisiana Avenue and the bus stop on the east side of Expo New Mexico will be closed as artists work to bring this mural to life.
“There’s a visual energy to the mural, there’s a zigzag pattern, then a curved pattern at the top, and they kind of clash, they’re not always really friends, and I think that’s kind of a metaphor of what it’s like to be pedestrians here or.” be a driver. There’s clashes and a struggle to get where they need to go,” Fearnside said.
The mural’s design was created with the help of people living in the International District. Fearnside even went door-to-door asking neighbors who live near the mural what they would like to see.
Most of this week is prep work – cleaning and priming the wall. They hope to start painting the design early next week to meet their April 15 deadline.
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