The Brightside: Miriam murals, Advocating for the youth
MARYLAND – Local artist and activist Miriam Moran has used her artistic talent to not only make a name for herself in the community but also advocate for those who don’t have a voice. She’s showing the power of murals and their impact on the youth. “There’s diversity that’s needed in our community so I wanted to kind of be that artist to kind of shine a light on diversity,” says Moran.
So, how does one shine a light on diversity? Well, Moran uses her paintbrush to do just that. Over nine years ago, the Dorchester County native became a self-taught local artist who wanted to use art for therapy, but through her challenges, she also saw a need to pay homage to those who didn’t have a voice. “I feel like the more you captivate more colors and more stories, the more connections it draws them to be more connected.” Moran adds, “Diverse cultures are coming into the community and we want to make everyone feel welcome.”
Moran tells us, she didn’t grow up seeing herself do the things she wanted to do. However, she embraced her talent as a Latina artist- her knack for drawing, painting, and creating captivated audiences on the shore. As she showcases in schools, boys and girls clubs, and communities, her ability to capture a story through art. “What art does, I believe it brings everyone together and tells our stories, and to me that helps grow a community. From the youth, from our elders to our greats, I feel like if we do this more, the more that we can understand one another and understand each others’s walks of life.”
A recent mural painted at the Judy Center at Maple Elementary School shows what Moran is trying to do with and for the youth. Coordinated by Jamie Jenkins, the site Program Manager, we’re told Moran was called to create a mural that depicted love, unity, education, and diversity. “when I saw their faces, I already had this whole concept in my mind to make sure I captured their heart, their love, their colors and embrace their different walks of life, but in the end, they’re still a union of love and a bright future.
Moran believes more children need to see themselves in the art that depicts their community. Even if it isn’t art, she wants her work to inspire and these projects allow her to be in the schools and community doing just that. “I’m very grateful that I’m able to connect with them because when you have different walks of life and can meet them where they’re at, you’re understanding their stories, it helps us captivate that, not only that, advocate it,” says Moran. “It’s bigger than just a beautiful art, it’s letting others have a voice and feel like they’re part of the community too.”
She also tells us, she works with the youth to give them a platform to find their voice to learn how to represent their communities, through their walks of life. “Now as I continue to grow in it, I realize that this is bigger than just me, it’s to show our youth that you can do anything. Even if it’s not just art, anything you want to do, it’s possible,” says Moran.
Representation continues to be at the forefront of her mission, as Moran says the Eastern Shore is a community that should embrace its diversity, and work together for a better future. “We need our communities, our families, everybody needs to heal and art does that.”
Moran is currently raising funds for a Latin mural called ‘Shine Your Light Mural which will focus solely on the Latino community here on the shore.
To donate or learn more, visit go-fund-me-dot-com and search Help Shine Your Light Public Art Mural. You will also find a link to her artistry page on our website.
