In August, AACC celebrated the unveiling of a new mural titled “Cultural Migration,” installed at Tyler Heights Elementary School. The project, a collaboration among AACPS, AACC, the Latin American Art Collective, Maryland Hall and the Anne Arundel County Office of Multicultural Affairs, is part of a multicultural mural series by Wilfredo Valladares Lara, lead artist and AACC professor.
“It is visually, intentionally designed to highlight the culture, the diversity, the beauty of our history and the strength, and also to empower our communities,” Valladares Lara said during the event. “It is part of the initiative to activate visual spaces in the community and then to collaborate with different organizations.”
The mural series, collectively titled “Las Paredes Hablan/The Walls Speak,” began as part of Valladares Lara’s sabbatical project in fall 2024, and includes other upcoming exhibitions at the Brentwood Arts Exchange and the Pascal Center for Performing Arts Gallery.
AACC students and community artists collaborated with Valladares Lara on the Tyler Heights Elementary School mural. Tyler Heights students and parents also contributed by painting small butterflies that were integrated into the larger mural. The three large-scale butterfly silhouettes were developed in AACC’s sculpture studios before moving to Tyler Heights Elementary School.
“This work serves as an example of the support that envelops our school and is a testament to the unity, sense of belonging and commitment to growth and success that drives our district,” Tyler Heights Elementary Principal Julia Walsh said during the unveiling.