Artwork copyright Daniel Galvez. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.
Artwork copyright Daniel Galvez. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).
Artwork copyright Daniel Galvez. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).
Artwork copyright Daniel Galvez. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).
Artwork copyright Daniel Galvez. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).
Artwork copyright Daniel Galvez. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).
Re: Work, 2006
Daniel Galvez
American (born 1953)
Location: McNeil Island Special Commitment Center, McNeil Island
About the Artwork
This mural by artist Daniel Galvez explores themes of work, positive, change, and connection to community in the Visitor's Center of a specialized mental health treatment facility operated by the Department of Social and Health Services. The mural begins with the entrance to the McNeil Island Special Commitment Center (SCC), showing a group of people representing the diverse lives from which residents may have come. The next section (sepia brown-toned) represents residents learning a trade and other activities inside the facility. The following area represents residents looking back on the family interaction they may have lost, looking back on their time spent at the SCC, or looking toward the future. The stone arch symbolizes a gateway to new beginnings. Each block in the arch has iconic symbols that represent the themes of peace, life, and harmony. Starting at the lower left and moving clockwise they are: 1) Egyptian symbol of life and also symbol of wholeness and health; 2) Celtic spiral of life; 3) Dove of peace; 4) Yin Yang symbol for harmony and of man and woman; 5) Native American dreamcatcher; 6) African symbols for peace and understanding. The mural continues with triumphs and difficulties residents may encounter in society. The man falling has a choice of taking the difficult road (the spiral staircase) or the easier ground level path, and there is support to help him. The next three scenes show a man presenting his ideas to rebuild his home, another has gone back to his trade as a welder and is installing a symbol of rebirth (the Phoenix rising from the ashes), while others are taking classes to further their education. Further on we see men back in the workforce, like the builder pausing from his construction job and the fisherman returning to the sea. While one man is seen enjoying a celebratory dinner with his partner, another encounters loneliness and difficulty relocating. If successful with their rehabilitation, residents may enjoy growing old or starting a family. The final scene of a man with a seedling that has grown to bear fruit symbolizes a resident reaping the rewards of his labor to rework his life.
This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Department of Social and Health Services.
About the Artist
Oakland, California-based artist Daniel Galvez creates murals for public spaces. His artworks are inspired by his Mexican heritage and the legacy of community-focused artworks created by the great Mexican muralists Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and José Clemente Orozco. In his own words, "The overarching goal in many of my commissions is a celebration of the spirit of individuals and the strength of community. I weave together elements of landscape, culture, and most importantly, individuals, into a cohesive visual narrative."Galvez was born in Calexico, California. He began his career as a muralist in the 1970s during the contemporary mural movement. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the California College of Arts and Crafts and a Master of Arts degree in painting from San Francisco State University in 1979.
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