Flor Del Barrio

Desi Mundo (2024)

Desi Mundo’s vibrant and colorful mural design on the North side of the community center features several figures unified by the word “Flor” written in his distinct lettering style.  The title of the mural Flor Del Barrio means Neighborhood Flower. 

On the left side of the mural, a man reaches toward apricots and grapes, a nod to cannery workers and the agricultural industry that shaped the Guadalupe-Washington neighborhood. Above the farmworker, a woman holds a broom in the air, a reference to the Justice for Janitors campaign that began in this neighborhood in the 1990s.  Next to this farmworker are two food vendors with carts. These figures represent the past and present members of the Guadalupe-Washington community.  

In the center of the mural, a sepia-toned male figure has an Ohlone girl tattoo on his arm.  She is positioned above one of the California missions and rows of barb wire, referring to the Spanish colonization of the indigenous Thamien (Ohlone) communities of this area. An Ohlone girl in regalia contrasts with the tattooed arm, representing past and present conversations with history. Behind this figure, a Pachuco man in a zoot suit stands next to his car, a symbol of self-made success.  

On the right side of the mural, a folklorico dancer twirls her bright green dress. At the bottom right, an older woman with a young girl cook together. These figures are examples of education outside of the academic classroom. 

In the background behind all the figures, a serape in sunset colors with images of marigolds and roses throughout the mural.  A single hummingbird flies above a rose, an important animal in the Ohlone creation myth. Overall, the main themes in this mural are different pathways to success, honoring history, and community healing.  

More information on the artist can be found at www.desimundo.com.