Two local artists will paint a mural in the Gordon-White Building in January to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Mexican American and Latina/o Studies Department. 

The married artists Ernesto and Cindy Tobar Hernandez have created eight murals together across Austin, San Antonio and San Marcos, and they will work in a temporary residency with the University, according to the department website. The department posted its open call for an artist in August and announced the couple on Nov. 13. 

“We want to really represent what the Latino (identity) is about,” Cindy said. “The struggle, people, culture, music, food and everything that identifies with that.” 

The University recently demolished the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, which contained a  historic mural by artist Raúl Valdez. Cindy said their mural will pay tribute to Valdez, a pioneering Austin muralist who captures Latino history, culture and struggles in his art.

“He was in the (Chicano muralist) movement since the late 1960s, early 1970s, and he’s considered to be the first muralist in the city to start doing that,” Ernesto said. “We want to include him in the mural to give him respect, and also tell UT that you could demolish him, but …. we’re still gonna speak about it. It’s not right to do that.” 

During the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, Chicano students at UT advocated for more Mexican American curriculum, prompting the creation of the Center for Mexican American Studies in 1970, according to the department’s website. The center evolved to include the Latina/o Studies wing in 2014. The artists said they plan to integrate the department’s 2024 theme,  “Knowledge is Power,” into the mural. 

“We’re facing a really interesting time when legislatures around the country, including our own in Texas, are targeting universities and trying to put limitations on what can and can’t be taught,” Department Chair Karma Chavez said. “‘Knowledge is Power’ is to insist on our right to have whatever knowledge it is that we see fit, and in so doing, we will empower ourselves in our community.” 

Ernesto and Cindy, an Indigenous couple with Coahuiltecan and Guatemalan roots, said community involvement plays a key role in mural painting. They invite all students, regardless of artistic talent or background, to join them in the process. Students interested in contributing to the project can apply by Dec. 13 to assist in the painting process. 

“We really like murals because if you do them correctly, meaning that you involve the community … you have that collaboration,” Ernesto said. “We’re all about that. That’s what Indigenous is. It’s being aware that you’re part of this community at all times, in every aspect of your life, including the art.”