COMMUNITY PROFILE Over several decades, Huitzilopochtli performed frequently on the Auraria Campus. While he was a student at Metropolitan State University, Jay Jaramillo was a regular audience member of these performances. During this period, Chavez spent a lot of time with the Jaramillos and became like family to them. Jerry and Jay Jaramillo titled their mural, “Tlaloc,” after the supreme Aztec god of thunder and lightning. In the painting, Chavez is depicted as Tlaloc, surrounded by several Aztec symbols. Just above Chavez’s head is a roaring jaguar, a symbol of power. In the painting, the jaguar is emitting lightning bolts from its open mouth. The feathered serpent in the mural is a symbol of knowledge and is often seen in Aztec and Mayan art. The feathers also represent Chavez being in the “spirit realm,” meaning he now has feathers in the afterlife. The empty space below Chavez’s head is intentional to represent his soul in the cosmos. Jay Jaramillo said he applied for a permit to create this particular mural because that section of Santa Fe Drive has been like a home to him. Jerry Jaramillo, a renowned artist, jeweler, and sculptor, owned an art gallery in the district, and his art shows and exhibits frequently included Jay’s paintings. Since then, the neighborhood has changed significantly. “We really had a home going on here, but we’ve been kind of displaced like a lot of people in Denver,” said Jay. Painting the mural gave Jay and his father an opportunity to interact with their old community. The Jaramillos believe “Tlaloc” brings honor to the Aztec and Mexican cultures and hope the mural will “preserve the culture of the community,” while also honoring Chavez’s life. What makes “Tlaloc” especially significant is that it reflects the Aztec culture without any reference to European influences. It is purely Aztec art. According to the Jaramillos, “Tlaloc” is ultimately about healing for Chavez’s family and the community he inspired so much. “Raul’s family lives not too far from here, and his daughter drove by here the other day so they could have some healing too, I feel like he passed away a little too young,” said Jay. The mural itself is a bit of a time capsule. States that used to be Mexico such as Colorado, Utah, and Arizona, were called Aztlan, the Aztec capital, which is also referred to as “the land toward the north.” This Aztec influence is still present in these landscapes, including towns and cities throughout Colorado. By creating this memorial of Chavez in the Santa Fe Art District Jay Jaramillo says it’s a way of “going back in time,” and showcasing that Aztec influence on modern-day life. With the mural, Jay Jaramillo believes it will ensure legacy Chavez’s lives on. “Sometimes you lose the grandmother or the grandfather of the family. and the family culture falls apart, so we wanted for the people to see him—especially in the neighborhood where his family still lives,” he said. ■ DONATE YOUR CAR! Need to get rid of your car, truck, or motorcycle? Consider donating it to Denver VOICE. Call (855) 500-7433, or go to: careasy.org/nonprofi t/denver-voice. Your donation helps Denver VOICE succeed in its mission to provide individuals experiencing homelessness or poverty the chance towards a more stable life. The Denver VOICE empowers homeless, impoverished, and transient individuals by creating job opportunities through our vendor program. We facilitate a dialogue addressing the roots of homelessness by telling stories of people whose lives are impacted by poverty and homelessness and to offer economic, educational, and empowerment opportunities for the impoverished community. VOLUNTEER WITH US! We are looking for volunteers to support our program coordination by helping with paper distribution and basic offi ce administration at the Denver VOICE offi ce (989 Santa Fe Dr.) from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. If you are interested and would like to know more, contact us at: program@denvervoice.org September 2022 DENVER VOICE 9
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