In the summer 2022 the UIC Heritage Garden collaborated with Yollocalli’s Street Art Class to design and paint a mural that would weave together various themes of monarchs, pollinators, and migratory species in relation to social and environmental justice issues, including the creation and maintenance of urban pollinator habitats.

Pollinators are vast and unique, just like people. Some come out at night, others disperse pollen throughout the day. They are not just one type of insect, or animal. Some are mammals, birds, and even people can act as pollinators. They have formed relationships across culture and geographies with people, plants and other beings. They show up in oral and written histories as gods, spirits, helpers, and even souls of departed loved ones in the case of Monarch butterflies and white moths.

 We hope that this mural inspires others to think about the interconnected world, and how we can support each other across species, because our actions and thoughts have the potential to create shortages and abundance for those around us and those to come.

- Excerpt from Heritage Garden leader Nia Cunningham’s speech during the mural inauguration on November 2nd, 2022.

The mural is located on the north west side of the UIC Latino Cultural Center. A map to the center can be found here.

Yollocalli Arts Reach is an award-winning youth initiative of the National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA). This project was made possible in part through funding by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Check out more information on Monarch Butterflies and pollinators on our website.

Students from Yollocalli and the Heritage Garden pose in front of the Mural along with artist Mario Mena (center). Pictures links to photo album of the inauguration on Novemeber 2nd, 2022.

Outdoor Mural Contributors

Lead Artist: 

Mario Mena from Mena Arte Creative Studios

Student Artists:

Street Art Class Summer 2022

Jose Cortes

Irene de la Rosa

Karla Hernandez-Roman

Tenaiylah Johnson

Ashley Lopez

Mariana Ramirez

Sofia Ramirez

Elija Rogers

Angelina Roman

Joselyn Serrato

Camilo Tobias-Corona

Juan Vargas

Lead Coordinator

Ireri Unzueta Carrasco, UIC Latino Cultural Center 

Top left: Students sit around a table inside the UIC Latino Cultural Center Gallery while planning ideas for the mural. Top center: Students and lead artist sit and around the mural and paint it. Top right: Student stands on a latter and paints the sunflower/sun on the mural, hanging at Yollocalli’s studio space in Little Village. Two more students sit on the floor and work on a different part of the mural.

Bottom left: two students sit on the mural and paint the city scape. Bottom center: One student paints the planets while sitting on the floor. Bottom right: one student sits on the floor and paints part of a red flower while the mural hangs on the wall.

For more pictures go to the UIC Heritage Garden photo account and look for the albums that document the mural painting process.