The spray paint festival returned for its second consecutive year, with Community artists creating seven brand-new murals.

3 Takeaways:

• The second annual Echoes of Akimel festival introduced seven new murals located throughout the Community.
• The festival was a collaboration between SRPMIC Youth Services, Ske:g Himdag Ki:, the Young River People’s Council and more.
• Paul “Nox” Pablo, Douglas Miles, Tim “Ingen” Pasqual and other featured artists mentored and provided hands-on assistance to Community youth artists.

The hisses from countless spray paint cans were heard throughout the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community during the week of March 16. 

It was the return of the Echoes of Akimel Mural Festival, with artists creating new murals at locations across the Community. 

Ten celebrated artists from Indian Country mentored Community youth artists who worked on the murals, ranging from fifth-graders to seniors in high school. Jeanette “Lady Rise” Rocha, Paul “Nox” Pablo, Vyal, Douglas Miles, Allen “After” Lewis, Alania “Rogue” Pierce, Tim “Ingen” Pascal, Natasha “Rezmo” Martinez and many more artists were on hand to provide guidance and outlines for the youth to complete the murals. 

Seven murals were created at this year’s mural festival. Locations are the Salt River Pool, the Community Building, the Food Bank, Helping Hands Thrift Store, the containers housed at Engineering and Construction Services, as well as a private residence. 

Artists spent March 18 and 19 completing each of the murals—doing so in triple-digit heat for the first time this year. Thankfully, at each mural location, artists and staff were provided with tents, chairs, port-a-potties, plenty of water and, of course, music.

While working on the mural at ECS, located at Alma School and McKellips roads, 10-year-old artist Jace Washington detailed his creative process. “So, what we’re going do is … add in some blue and yellow together,” he said as he was painting the sky and sun on the mural. 

Washington also revealed some of his favorite music and anime programs that help keep him inspired. “I like rap, jazz, other sorts of things. I’m into Goku,” he said.

Mentoring artist Tim “Ingen” Pascal assisted with the mural located at the Community Building. He said, “The kids are helping me paint. I came by on Tuesday and dropped the outline for them, [and] they’ve been rocking and rolling ever since.”

Ingen is from the Tohono O’odham Nation and helped create the saguaro harvest mural located on the Community Building, near the front entrance. “It’s that time of the year of being thankful for the good year that we had and we’re waiting for the new year; hopefully, a good year is coming,” he added. 

All eyes turned to Friday night’s unveiling of the seven new murals, in addition to a new event for this year’s festival: a fashion show. 

Friday’s Festivities 

Friday’s events took place at the Ske:g Himdag Ki: on March 20, signifying the conclusion of the festival. On the field, music was heard through the speakers as participants visited informational booths from departments around the Community packed with goodies and resources. 

Other booths offered crafts like spray painting, diamond art painting, special string art and much more. As the night went on, raffles and giveaways gave everyone the opportunity to be a winner. 

This year, Natasha “Rezmo” Martinez held a fashion show for young designers to show off their work to the audience. First-, second-, and third-place prizes were awarded. 

The event concluded with full bags of goodies, laughter, and walls that once were a blank canvas now filled to the brim with graffiti art. The festival provided young Community artists the perfect opportunity to leave their mark in a fun and creative way.