Green Empowerment: Mexico
Mexico 2012: “El Venado Azul” was created with a Huichol indigenous community in the remote mountains of Jalisco, Mexico. Everyone contributed their expressions; the larger imagery reflects their spiritual beliefs. Created during Joel’s 2012 residency with the Mexican organization IRRI, the International Institute of Renewable Resources (Instituto Internacional de Recursos Renovables), which focuses on green technologies and sustainable development in low-income communities.
In 2012 Joel collaborated with the Mexican organization IRRI, the International Institute of Renewable Resources (Instituto Internacional de Recursos Renovables), which focuses on green technologies and sustainable development in low-income rural and urban communities. The project included educational workshops and murals with the traditional Huichol indigenous people in the mountains of Jalisco and in a school in a marginalized neighborhood of Mexico City. Joel turned the “Paz Paz Bus” into a work of art, which IRRI will now use to travel around the country, bringing their social projects and healing art programs to dozens of villages and cities. Joel participated an IRRI arts program in the Children’s Hospital of Mexico City, where he worked with child cancer patients and other kids with serious illnesses. He also created a series of paintings reflecting IRRI’s themes of water conservation, the preservation of Indigenous culture, sustainable small farming, and support for children with serious diseases.
Mexico 2012: the Shaman (maracame) of the Huichol people. Their traditional religion involves the use of the psychedelic cactus peyote. Part of project in collaboration with the Mexican organization IRRI: Istituto Internacional de Recursos Renovables.
Mexico, 2012: “Tla-Loc” the Aztec rain god: work on canvas: from a series for the Mexican organization IRRI: Istituto Internacional de Recursos Renovables
Theatrical performance in a Huichol village in the remote mountains of Jalisco.
Huichol children work on a mural in their village.
“Benito” 2012. Acrylic and spray paint on canvas. 16″ x 28″ painted in Mexico City. Commissioned by the organization IRRI (Istituto Internacional de Recursos Renovables)
Bringing the arts to severely ill children in the Mexico City Children’s Hospital.
“Niño con Cáncer” 2012. Acrylic and spray paint on canvas. 16″ x 32″ painted in Mexico City. Commissioned by the organization IRRI (Istituto Internacional de Recursos Renovables)
The Children’s Hospital crew! It’s important to bring joy, comedy and goofiness to this intensely sad place.
The Paz Paz Bus, bringing social projects and the arts to communities across Mexico.
The Paz Paz Bus! In the jungle of Jalisco.
“Huichola” 2012. Acrylic and spray paint on canvas. 16″ x 28″ painted in Mexico City. Commissioned by the organization IRRI (Istituto Internacional de Recursos Renovables)
“El Esqueleto” 2012. Acrylic and spray paint on canvas. 18″ x 32″ painted in Mexico City. Commissioned by the organization IRRI (Istituto Internacional de Recursos Renovables)
Mexico 2012: “El Campo” work on canvas, part of project in collaboration with the Mexican organization IRRI: Istituto Internacional de Recursos Renovables.
A Huichol girl works on a mural in her village.
Students at a Mexico City school explore the issue of water preservation through this mural.
Section of a mural with students at a Mexico City school.
About IRRI
IRRI’s mission is to promote programs, communities and businesses that produce sustainable goods and services and help reduce reliance on fossil fuels. IRRI supports rural and low-income communities with the objective of improving the quality of life through generating, developing, and conserving local resources. IRRI’s vision is sustainable and equitable prosperity in world without contamination.
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Joel Artista
In 2012 Joel collaborated with the Mexican organization IRRI, the International Institute of Renewable Resources (Instituto Internacional de Recursos Renovables), which focuses on green technologies and sustainable development in low-income rural and urban communities. The project included educational workshops and murals with the traditional Huichol indigenous people in the mountains of Jalisco and in a school in a marginalized neighborhood of Mexico City. Joel turned the “Paz Paz Bus” into a work of art, which IRRI will now use to travel around the country, bringing their social projects and healing art programs to dozens of villages and cities. Joel participated an IRRI arts program in the Children’s Hospital of Mexico City, where he worked with child cancer patients and other kids with serious illnesses. He also created a series of paintings reflecting IRRI’s themes of water conservation, the preservation of Indigenous culture, sustainable small farming, and support for children with serious diseases.
Joel Artista 