A colorful 60-foot mural is the latest piece of public art in Brentwood that captures the vibrancy and importance of Latin American culture, right down to the pupusa, the national dish of El Salvador.
The visionary behind the mural is artist Segundo Orellana, 54, of Patchogue. The Ecuador native is a self-taught artist who visited museums, libraries and galleries to master his craft. Since the 2008 recession, he has used his skills to promote the beauty of Latin America through nearly a dozen murals adorning businesses and buildings in Patchogue, Central Islip and Brentwood.
His newest work, unveiled Friday at Brentwood Pharmacy on bustling Suffolk Avenue and to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, weaves Latin American imagery into the art.
“Doing the murals is so important because we live in such a diverse community,” Orellana told Newsday days before the unveiling. “Creating murals is about giving respect to the community and being proud of our heritage, hobbies, family, customs, music and so much more.”
Orellana, a full-time artist, joined Teatro Yerbabruja in Bay Shore five years ago. The art center, named after a plant that thrives in harsh conditions, focuses on traditionally underserved and underrepresented communities and artists throughout Long Island, with an emphasis on Central Islip, Brentwood and the North Bay Shore.
“Making public art projects, like murals, that reflect Latin American culture [reminds] who we are, where we come from, our roots, our colors, our music,” said Margarita Espada, a Puerto Rican artist who founded Teatro in 2004. “It is also an opportunity to educate and create spaces for conversations with all the inhabitants of so many cultures coexisting in Brentwood.”
The mural took Orellana and his assistant, Daniel Jimenes, 23, of Central Islip, 150 hours to complete. Jimenes, also a self-taught artist, prepared the building and drew grids while Orellana sketched his outline. Then, they got to work. Rather than using a projector to project the design onto the wall, Orellana carefully sketched the outline by hand before hand painting it. The pharmacy is the site of an earlier mural by Orellana, which was removed for his latest work.
Jimenes, who is Dominican, is Orellana’s student. Although Jimenes said his personal art leans toward fine art on fabric, he said he appreciates the experience he’s gaining under Orellana, which “takes him out of his comfort zone.”
The mural, stretched to the side of the pharmacy, is a mix of rich hues ranging from deep red to cerulean blue. Rather than focusing on just one theme, Orellana’s mural captures parts of Latin America and represents many countries in the region.
At the center of the mural is a Guatemalan woman representing the indigenous people of Central America. It overlooks a sandy beach and ocean waves, a nod to the stunning beaches of Latin America, Orellana said. Another woman is painted cooking pupusas, thick casserole cakes from El Salvador and Honduras.
“This [Brentwood] it’s a place where diversity is unique,” Orellana said. “Everyone who walks past the mural is part of the community… We all have our culture deep within us, but seeing the mural is like a light shining on our culture. ”
With Darwin Yanes
Where you can see some of Segundo Orellana’s murals:
- Brentwood Pharmacy: 761 Suffolk Ave., Brentwood
- Pronto food bank: 128 Pine Aire Dr., Bay Shore
- Small Square Deli: 92 Wicks Rd., Brentwood
- Chicken camp: 1665 5th Ave., Bay Shore
- Maple Avenue Mini Mart: 109 Maple Ave., Patchogue
