Related projects include documentary, future history project

Silver City -- The bold, colorful mural in progress on Chihuahua Hill at the southeast corner of Richard and Theodore streets is inspiring true community collaboration and participation, as world-renowned artist Carlos Callejo of Los Angeles allows his vision and expression of local history to expand and grow with each contribution from passersby and contributing artists. Here Callejo, who has lifelong connections with family and friends here in Grant County, works on details of one mural vignette depicting La Capilla. 

Assisting Callejo with touch-ups to a rare, public depiction of Geronimo, the Apache leader, are (pictured left to right) Werikame Lopez, his five-year-old daughter Huitzi Lopez, Lonnie Strange and Illimani Lopez. 

Werikame's 16-year-old son, Kinan, is a Silver High School student and amateur photographer and videographer who hopes to produce a documentary about the mural for submission to the Silver City Museum, where staff are planning to develop a local history project about Chihuahua Hill. Kinan has established a GoFundMe account to raise $1,000 to produce the documentary, as well as to support ongoing travel and living expenses for muralist Callejo, who plans to remain in Silver City for several more weeks, as his original vision expands along with that of the community's. 

Other community members who've contributed to the mural, which spans both Theodore and Richard streets at Capilla Park, include Sylvia Mendez, Autumn McPherson, Kari Scullion, Leticia Roybal, Zeke Gonzales, Mike Aguilera, Theodora Quintero and Jeramiah Portillo.  Silver City's Public Works Department completed the retention-wall-turned-artists' canvas in December, 2019. To make a donation to the historic mural project, please visit gofundme.org, and enter the words "community park mural project" in the search tool. For more information, call Werikame Lopez at 575 654-6935.