Temple Lane gets exciting mural

A three-dimensional mural depicting reggae Icon Bob Marley, a couple, and a Mexican woman blowing a trumpet, was unveiled on Temple Lane in downtown Kingston on Monday.

The mural, done by renowned international muralist Irvin Gomez, through the efforts of the Mexican Embassy, is part of a project, titled 'Paint Up Yu Creative Space', being undertaken in downtown Kingston. It is being done in collaboration with the culture ministry and the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation.

Culture Minister Olivia Grange said that murals that are done in volatile communities demonstrate to residents that their communities are cared for and respected, making crimes of opportunity, such as vandalism, illegal dumping, drug abuse and robbery, less likely to occur. She said that a growing body of research has positively identified murals as a catalyst for social, cultural and economic benefits, and that they also has the ability to alter moods and promote mental health.

Creative expressions

"They offer accessibility to art and creative expressions, with little or no cost barriers often related to museums, galleries, or private collections. So, through visual expression, murals promote a sense of identity, a sense of belonging and attachment. They are welcoming and strengthen the brand appeal of our communities," Grange said.

Mexican Ambassador to Jamaica, Ambassador Gonzalez Mijares, said he is happy for the cultural dialogue and exchange between Jamaica and Mexico.

"I hope that this mural will serve as a starting point for all the works of street art in Kingston, as well as a very original postcard that captures our bilateral cultural cooperation," he said.

Kingston Mayor Delroy Williams said that the multidimensional mural project is all a part of efforts to make Kingston the "light of the Caribbean and the pearl of the Antilles".

"We have said that the light of the Caribbean is important to us, because being the light of the Caribbean means that we are producing a generation of young people whose intellect is of such that they can take on the urban challenges confronting cities and provide solutions to them. So, we want to create a generation of problem-solvers," he said.