Las Lavanderas de Pinos de Valle

And this has been my tribute to all those women, who after a long day working in the fields collecting olives, went down to the public washing place (lavadero), carrying heavy laundry baskets, to continue working...

This mural represents a deep grateful recognition of all that effort and dedication from our ancestors, during all those years of hardship.

"It was much more..."

Washing in the river, or washing in the fields, in a tin bucket or in a stone bowl made out of from Sierra Elvira stone... Or many years later, washing in the "lavadero" was much more...
It was a meeting place of generations, house of wisdom and secrets, where people learned, where children were educated, and where news spread like soap foam...

This mural represents those moments of complicity and happiness that undoubtedly existed among basket and basket.

During the weeks I was there painting in this small village from Spain called Pinos del Valle (Granada), I witnessed that corner suddenly become a meeting point again. Neighbours who met there for the first time, people who met again after many years, people asked about the family, who exchanged memories, news, recipes and even health advice. All in the streets, all as it used to be.

It was a great experience.

Thank you very much to the City Council of El Pinar for trusting in my vision from the first moment.

And thank you to all those who stopped to share a little chat with me...

I am left with the glow in Doña Inés' eyes! An 80 year old lady, who while observing the mural, with eyes full of joy, she unlocked beautiful memories of her childhood in the "lavadero" with her mother.

You are amazing Doña Inés!