Socorro Mural

The year of 2020 proved to be one filled with challenges, tragedy, and unpredictability. Like cities across the nation, Socorro and its residents struggled to develop solid footing under the circumstances that plagued the world at the time. But there were traces of hope throughout the region, one being the Welcome to Socorro mural that created by local artists Andy Gomez, Chris Hurtado, and Lourdes Aguilar.

The creating of the Welcome to Socorro mural began in early 2020. Artist Andy Gomez took early initiative with the project and explained how the idea to create the mural came to life.


“The railroad commission installed a 10-foot by 50-foot wall as a sound barrier, but also created a perfect canvas for a mural, so the opportunity really presented itself,” Andy explained, “And I knew that if we created a mural all age groups can appreciate and relate to, then we would not see any vandalism or unwanted graffiti on that wall; the Welcome to Socorro mural project was the perfect idea.”
Fellow artist and experienced muralist Chris Hurtado was brought on-board just a few months after the idea was finally coming into the works. He spoke about the significance of the mural and how the mural contributed to the rise in public art opportunities throughout the region.
“The mural had been in the works for quite some time before I started working for the City of Socorro, but Andy had reached out to me previously to ask if I would be willing to help work on the mural,” he explained. “There had not been any public art conducted in Socorro for quite some time until this mural was done, so it is one of a kind and helped pave the way for more public art in Socorro.”
But the journey to complete the mural came with detours, largely caused by the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The project initially began in March of 2019, which for many marked the start of a harsh reality that required major adjustments.
“The hardest part of this process was waiting due to the pandemic. Just as we started to put paint on the wall, we were notified that we would be working from home and that meant painting would have to come to a halt,” Andy said. “The project remained untouched for months and every day I drove by the site and hoped that no one vandalized it. It felt like forever.”
Chris also felt the toll of the pandemic both as an artist, and also as a person who, like many, had their work was heavily affected by the pandemic.
“This mural brought many challenges for me as an artist and mentally,” he explained. “COVID brought a lot of fear to my life which was challenging mentally and once it hit, I wasn’t sure if I still had a job at one point. But in the end, creating something from nothing always brings me happiness and gratitude; this mural helped me, and the community get through some really hard times.”
Once the artists were able to get their hands back in the paint, the mural and its relevance to The City was apparent in the depictions that tell the past, present and even the future of the Socorro community. Andy took the time to break down the images within each letter and what they represent.
“In the ‘S’ is cotton fields, the Socorro mission, the Tigua, and the Bracero, which are images of what started this city. In the “O” we are honoring the people that keep our city safe and for those that provide aid when we need it the most,” Andy explained. “In the “R” is an image representing the 5A State championship win, but it also represents what we can accomplish anything when we work together as a team. Finally, the “C” represents that even through a global pandemic you can see the mental strength of our youth and what they are willing to endure to secure a brighter future.”
Outside of the visual appeal of the mural, it also holds an overwhelming amount of mental and emotional magnitude for both the artists and the community. Andy, like all Socorroans, bore the stress of the pandemic and detailed what the mural meant to him during that time.
“The painting process was filled with a lot of different emotions. I was worried for our Tiguan Neighbors and first responders, thinking of all our youth and how hard it must be on their education and social life,” he stated. “But this project was the best thing that could have happened to me in that time of my life. Every second I spent on that wall I was able to detach myself from all the chaos that was happening all around me.”
Chris who uses art as a means of self-therapy, saw the impact the mural had on community members who viewed it as a beacon of hope during such harsh times.
“While painting the mural people were constantly stopping to talk to us and share how the mural has impacted them,” he explained. “Sometimes people would just stop by and talk to us, I felt like a therapist or counselor at times.”
Upon its completion in August of 2020, the mural was immediately received with positivity from the public. The history and stories it embody were established through collaboration with other local artists, as well as ideas submitted by the public. While the focus on the community and public input did slow the process, Andy expressed that it remained to be a priority as murals represent more than just an artist’s talent.
“Art to me is a type of time capsule,” he said. “Murals explain your culture, they let people know what you’re about, and what you’ve experienced. And it feels great when you are given the opportunity to collaborate with other talented artists and produce an amazing public art piece that everyone can relate to and appreciate.”
The mural is expected to remain standing for years to come, serving as a greeting to visitors of Socorro as well as a symbol of perseverance for the locals. Over the course of time, the paint will age, and the images will be warped by nature, but it’s significance will remain timeless within the Socorro community.
“It will become a part of its surroundings, and it will age as the season’s change and the years pass by, almost as if the mural is alive,” Chris explained. “If murals or any exterior art could talk, I’m pretty sure they’d have some interesting stories to tell. And that’s the beauty of creating and applying murals to city architecture; we are creating history with our art.

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