We painted the two sets of Denver International Airport murals in a local studio within Lakeside Mall, near Wheatridge, Colorado. After three years of creating the mural there, we transferred the large panels to DIA in 1995. ​​​

While the murals were at Lakeside Mall, hundreds of people visited us. They came to see the mural, which spoke of peace and diversity. We not only painted children’s faces from our own imagination, we also painted real life children, such as Sandina, my then eight-year-old daughter, three of her small cousins, and at least ten of Sandina’s classmates and friends from school and church.

I have many memories of these children attending each other’s birthday parties, playing in tree houses, skating at the roller rink, and going on school field trips, such as to the museum, zoo, video arcade, and to ice cream shops.

Chris, one of Sandina’s classmates, was a Boy Scout, so the portrait we painted of him is in his Boy Scout uniform. Other proud parents brought their sons and daughters to the studio and either lent us authentic traditional costumes or brought us reference photos. Some of the children posed in their traditional dress. Many of my daughter’s friends were in costumes from their own heritages, like nine-year-old Sarah, whose portrait is next to Chris’s – Sarah’s ancestors were from Russia, Amber’s from Italy, and two sisters, Felicia and Jackie, from Switzerland and Holland. Other costumes included some from Africa, the Australian Aboriginal, Bangladesh, Nepal, Native America, and even from Amish America and the Colorado Rockies.

Seeing how much the community enjoyed the mural, my father, Cheryl, and I collaborated with Sandina’s school, Stephens Elementary, and organized free painting workshops where every child was welcome. Some of the parents provided free photography, writing, and comic book drawing lessons as well. The murals truly belong to the community.