Last Updated on June 7, 2018, 1:14 PM | Published: June 7, 2018
The original Capitol Hill commercial district south across the river from downtown Oklahoma City has gained a new mural created by one of the city’s newer muralists, Sergio Ramirez.
The Capitol Hill Civic group toured the mural called “My Brush” Thursday morning between rain showers and heard Ramirez explain the variety of images depicting the advances Hispanic culture has given to the world.
We asked Ramirez how long he had been an artist.
“I’ve been an artist ever since I could walk and hold a crayon, man,” he said with a laugh.
While some muralists carefully plan out their murals and use projection to give them guidelines, Ramirez said he uses “freestyle” which involves a lot of stopping and moving back from the work and then painting more.
He has done other murals on the south side in a restaurant and a barbershop, but this one is one of his biggest and certainly the most prominent.
Images of space travel, technical advances, architectural advances and the first calendar are included in the mural that covers the south exterior wall of the Mosaic Mental Health building at 2512 S. Harvey just south of Calle dos Cinco/SW 25th.
Free Press talked to Mayor David Holt who came to the viewing.
What does the new mural represent to him?
“Anything in Capitol Hill is really important to me,” said Holt. “This community is right on the verge of being the next big draw among districts here in Oklahoma City.”
“These seem like small things, a mural. But every block is continuing to be improved here in Capitol Hill. And I envision this whole little neighborhood being revitalized just like this wall has been.”
Ramirez was commissioned by the Historic Capitol Hill Board and Mosaic Mental Health to create the mural.
“We are proud of the colorful mural…which portrays the dreams of our youth and the influence of heritage and culture,” said Donna Cervantes, director of the business promotion organization Calle Dos Cinco in Historic Capitol Hill.
Founder, publisher, and editor of Oklahoma City Free Press. Brett continues to contribute reports and photography to this site as he runs the business.
