Joy

This mural was created in 2022. It was one of the largest murals painted by Ana Balcazar at the time of its creation. It is also the first mural by Ana in the United States.

Artist Statement: I wanted to bring beauty and meaning to the community with my mural. My goal was to illustrate something that would make people smile. My aim with this mural is

to empowered kids to dream about their future - as imagination is one of the most

basic stones that can drive and motivate a young mind. Regardless of someone's economic or racial background, everyone has the capability to dream and imagine.

This mural is on a safe walking route to Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary School. I wanted to create a mural that represents the diversity present in the neighborhood through a joyful image. There is a large Asian population living in the surrounding neighborhood, many of whom arrived in Erie as refugees from Bhutan and Nepal, and I want children to identify with the subject in the mural.

I choose bright colors and to portray a joyful child. Butterflies and flowers are coming to life from an open book, which reinforces the theme that imagination and education are transformative. The butterflies and flowers are also a statement about migration, diversity, and the fragility of life. The mural includes a monarch butterfly, the most iconic and common butterfly, which sadly was declared endangered this year.