By Victoria Rodgers, South Kern Sol
On Wednesday afternoon, All of Us or None (AOUON) unveiled their mural outside the Kentucky Street post office.
Due to AOUON’s extensive COVID-19 related work in the community, the organization received support in the form of a $7,000 grant to create a COVID related art project in the community.
The organization came together as a team to decide on the concept and then they were introduced to artist Jennifer Williams-Cordova who was able to capture their ideas perfectly, according to AOUON President, Ucedrah Osby.
“Love is an action word,” stated Osby. “Being that we’ve been boots on the ground continuously since the onset…. that’s love. And people genuinely love their family, neighbors, friends. So our mural depicts ways to protect those you love.”
“LOVE in Action,” the 13-by-49-foot mixed media mural features the word “LOVE” with oversized printouts of seven members of the community.
Osby stated that the decision to use everyday people came from wanting more representation and to see reflect the people living in their neighborhoods.
“We need to see us,” Osby said.
“I felt grateful to be able to express and be part of the message — which is love,” said Andres Zuniga, who was painted into the mural with his granddaughter Mia Jolene. “What better way to express love than by protecting the ones you love? If there’s more love in the world, it would be a different world.”
Osby stated that seeing the mural completed left her in “pure amazement.” She described the piece of art as “bright, beautiful, and encouraging.”
In addition to unveiling the mural, AOUON also distributed free T-Shirts with the winning designs from the T-Shirt design contest they held to bolster COVID-19 vaccination efforts.
