Mexican Murals - Localvore Message at La Esperanza Store

What's better than a cool looking mural? - Four cool looking murals? - Still better yet are four cool looking murals that have something to say! That is just the case with a little convenience store in my neighborhood of San Miguel Chapultepec.

On the corner of Gral. Juan Cano and Gral. Antonio León you can find a small convenience store. It is not part of a large franchise, and it sells a variety of items, from food to household products, and even a good selection of liquor. In this regard it is not too different from many similar stores in this neighborhood, or any other part of the city. What made me want to mention it in my post, however, are the murals painted on the steel shutters of its windows.

The one on the far left shows a human heart with the lettering saying "Every time you consume local, you are helping to build your community."

On the other side of the shop there is another interesting image, depicting a globe with an ugly gray side with urban buildings on the edge, and a beautiful blue one covered in trees and nature. The lettering says "Don't think that you can't change the world."

Alone these two pictures are enough to feature this store in my mural series, but then I happened to pass one day when the shop was closed, and I could see what was painted on the other two window shutters.

One of them shows another globe, this time all in beautiful blue and yellow, with many green leaves all around, being held in a hand.

The other one is probably the most interesting out of them all: A human-like figure, with a light bulb as its head. A hand is inserting a coin into a slot on the light bulb head, and the lettering drives the message home, leaving no trace of a doubt: "Each time you buy local you help someone in your community to keep on creating."

The shirt of this light bulb character bears the same logo that can be seen on each of the other three images: Domo Ludens Sustainable Community. A brief visit to their home page gives us an idea of what they are about: forming a connection between businesses, governments, and civil society in order to create solutions to communication, based on technology, storydoing, and meaningful communication. Though the murals don't give any info on the artists who painted these images, it can be assumed that they were connected to this group.

If you liked this, check out my developing series on Mexican murals:

Winston Churchil and the Bike Movement
The Beauty of Death and the Struggle of Life
Different Types of Wall Painting
Political Expression, The Painting is on the Wall
A Familiar Face
Chilakillers: Murals, Chilaquiles, and More
Under Metro Line 4
Respected and Less Respected Paintings
Murals of the Barrio in Aguascalientes
Murals Under Periferico
A Cartoon With A Public Health Message
A Warrior Princess in Mazunte
New Images Covering Old Ones
Get to Know Your Local Cacti
A Mural for a Movie
Commercial Murals for Small Businesses
Not Much New in Almost a Year
Feminist Art on a Blue-Collar Business
High Above the City
Laboratory Work on the Cocoa
Elite Warriors in the Parque México
A Journey Through Rock-and-Roll, Contest Winners
Playing With Bugs on the Rooftop
La Familia Burrón in the Center
Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda Central
New Stairs Art in my Neighborhood
Painted Garage Doors
The Children of the Feathered Serpent
Four Sides to a Water Box
Skate On Forever
A Healing Mermaid Under Mexican Skies
Axolotl in the Parque Lira
Axolotls Wherever You Look
The Rapidly Changing Wall of the Casa Picnic
Illuminated Illumination
Tlaloc in His Element
Aztec Legends in Metro Tacubaya
All Your Favorite Mexican Motives
Worsening Situation for Women
The Kiss of Death
Honoring the Departed
The Flower of Life in a Face
A Less Appreciated Wall Painting
Funky Graphics in the Condesa
When Big Red Lips Start Growing on You
New Pictures on Old Walls
A Beast With a Mesmerizing Look
Beautiful Animals in the Roma
Horrific Animals in the Roma
A Poetic Message About Tremors
Sesame Street the Mexican Way (güey)
The Turtle Center in Mazunte
B-Side Murals in Mazunte
Beautiful Art in La Boquilla
Return of the (Pinche) Chinche
A Crow, A Fly, And A Shaded Barbarossa
More Exploding Hearts in Mazunte
A Frida Kahlo Mermaid
A Small Glimpse of Zipolite
One More Mural from Mazunte