In the relentless sun of Ciudad Juárez, amidst the profound grief of forced disappearance, a powerful act of remembrance and resistance is taking shape. The “Living Memory Murals” (Memoria Viva) project is more than a public art initiative; it is a profound integration of art therapy, social justice activism, and community healing. In collaboration with muralist Ana Infante and the Paso del Norte Human Rights Center, this project supports five families who are navigating the unimaginable pain of searching for their missing loved ones.

Art Therapy: The Heart of the Process

The core of this project is not the mural itself, but the therapeutic process of creating it. For families of the disappeared, grief is complicated by uncertainty, institutional neglect, and the trauma of a search that has no clear endpoint. Traditional verbal therapy can sometimes fall short where words fail. This is where art therapy becomes essential.

Our work is guided by a trauma-informed approach, creating a safe, non-judgmental container for expression. The mural workshop is structured not as an art class, but as a therapeutic space where families can:

Rehumanize Their Loved One: Moving beyond a static photograph, we collaborate to capture the essence of the person—their personality, dreams, and spirit. This act defiantly counters the dehumanizing effect of becoming a "case file."

Externalize Pain and Hope: The creative process allows emotions that are too vast and complex for words—rage, sorrow, love, hope—to be externalized onto the canvas. Manipulating paint, choosing colors, and assembling images provides a sense of agency in a situation where families have been stripped of control.

Build Community Resilience: By working alongside other families who share this painful experience, participants break the isolating silence of their grief. They form a community of support, understanding, and collective strength.

Social Justice: Reclaiming Space and Narrative

The therapeutic process is inextricably linked to its social justice mission. The murals are not displayed in a private gallery; they are permanently installed on the walls surrounding the Monument to the Mother in Borunda Park—a public space these families have already claimed for monthly vigils.

This intentional act is a form of "artivism" (art + activism) that serves a dual purpose:

1. Public Denunciation: The murals are a silent yet deafening accusation against governmental inaction and apathy. They force the community and the state to look directly at the human cost of this crisis, transforming private grief into an undeniable public demand for justice.

2. Reappropriation of Space: By beautifying a public wall with their loved ones' stories, the families transform a neutral space into a sacred site of memory. They reclaim their right to the city and assert that their loved ones will not be forgotten or erased from public consciousness.

"¡Estás Aquí!" (You Are Here!)

Accompanying these families is a deeply humbling experience. It is a journey into a landscape of love that persists amidst profound absence. I wrote the poem “¡Estás Aquí!” to capture the essence of this accompaniment—the endless search, the enduring memory, and the love that becomes a form of resistance itself.

¡Estás Aquí! / YOU ARE HERE!

Te busco en el susurro del viento,

en el suspiro ardiente del desierto,

en la arena que guarda en su lamento

las huellas de un amor que está cubierto.

Te llevaste contigo mil palabras,

como el oasis se oculta al caminar,

dejando espejismos que no acaban,

un vacío que no puedo llenar.

¿Qué estrella en el cielo te acoge?

¿Eres la duna que no deja de cambiar?

En cada grano de arena te escondes,

mi corazón no te deja de llamar.

Eres memoria viva que no muere,

un fuego que se niega a apagar,

la canción que mi alma prefiere,

el faro que me guía al recordar.

Aunque el sol intente quemarte,

tu sombra persiste en mi andar,

como una llama que no deja apagarse,

eres el sentimiento que no puedo olvidar.

No es adiós, es un eco eterno,

un cactus que florece al recordar.

Eres el desierto que llevo dentro,

mi amor que nunca dejará de brillar.

English Translation

I search for you in the whisper of the wind,
in the burning sigh of the desert,
in the sand that holds in its lament
the traces of a love now veiled.

You took a thousand words with you,
like an oasis hidden along the way,
leaving mirages that never fade,
an emptiness I cannot fill.

What star in the sky shelters you?
Are you the dune that never stops shifting?
You hide in every grain of sand,
my heart never stops calling your name.

You are a living memory that won’t die,
a fire that refuses to fade,
the song my soul longs for,
the lighthouse that guides me as I remember.

Even if the sun tries to burn you away,
your shadow lingers in my steps,
like a flame that never extinguishes,
you are the feeling I cannot forget.

This is not goodbye, but an eternal echo,
a cactus that blooms in remembrance.
You are the desert I carry within,
my love that will never cease to shine.

This poem is for the families. It is a testament to their unwavering love and the indelible presence of those they seek.

Witness the Journey

To truly understand the emotional depth and transformative power of this work, I urge you to watch the short documentary, “Memoria Viva - Living Memory.” It captures the raw, hopeful, and resilient spirit of the families and artists as they collaborate.

Watch the 'Memoria Viva - Living Memory ' on YouTube

We are honored to walk alongside these five families, using the tools of art and therapy to support their search for truth, justice, and healing. This project is a powerful reminder that creativity is a vital force for dignity, memory, and social change.

¡Vivos los llevaron, vivos los queremos! (Alive they were taken, alive we want them back!)