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MEMORIAL OF CHILDREN AND THE BANNER OF PEACE

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One day, a local man visiting the studio asked my father to paint his son, Jessie, who had died. Mr. Sanchez gave a photograph of his son to my father, who painted the portrait.

Shortly thereafter, people from all over Denver that we had never met came and asked us to paint their children who had also died. They brought their children’s photographs. We painted several young people who were killed by violence, such as domestic violence, suicide, and gang violence.

One young lady, Jennifer Sanchez, was murdered when she was bringing her friend diapers for her baby. Her friend had escaped from her abusive boyfriend and was hiding in a different location. The friend’s boyfriend followed the unknowing Jennifer to the hiding place. In front of the baby, he shot Jennifer, and dragged the baby and mother over Jennifer’s body. I painted Jennifer’s portrait, which I know could never give the real Jennifer justice. Her parents and sister told me what an incredibly caring individual Jennifer was.

Another portrait shows a young man who had been accidentally killed in a car accident caused by a police officer in his patrol car while the officer was chasing another vehicle.

Other portraits include two youth who were shot randomly, one in front of her own home. A three-year-old Denver boy was shot by gang members in a drive-by and was confined in a wheel chair. The small child eventually died from complications.

We also painted Troy Chavez, whose parents lovingly created the Troy Chavez Memorial Peace Garden, which exists to this day. In 2005, I took my students to visit Ana Chavez and her son’s peace garden so that they could learn from her and Troy and to talk about violence prevention.

We painted Troy, Jennifer, and the other beautiful young people above a banner that says the word “peace” in several languages. Children of the World Dream of Peace inspired a dialogue within the community about respect and human dignity.

Although their children’s portraits were not part of the original design, the parents told us how painting their children helped to contribute to family and community healing. Their families helped design the murals with much more than their suffering.

They helped design the murals with hope.