De Boriken, Al Mundo, Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley, 2022

This mural is titled De Boriken, al Mundo which translates to, from Boriken, to the world. I chose this title to represent the ways that Clemente’s legacy reverberates beyond our islands to the mainland and globally. As a Puerto Rican and Dominican artist, Roberto Clemente is a figure that I admire for his dedication to his craft and his sense of dedication and obligation to humanity. I chose to depict Roberto after a swing that follows his trajectory from Barrio San Antón,Carolina, Puerto Rico to Pittsburgh. His gaze looks beyond the frame to capture a sense of hopefulness for the future. As if he is watching the impact of his life on the world.  I have also included historical blueprints of a Bethlehem steel blast furnace to show the connection between the working class and immigrant communities in Pittsburgh and Bethlehem. I also included Caribbean florals to mimic the trail or path of his swing. I included flags of Latin American and Caribbean countries to represent the global reach Clemente has. As I mentioned earlier, each of these flags were painted by community members from South Bethlehem. Two flags also appear as a patch on Clemente’s arm and on the bat he swings. The Puerto Rican flag emphasizes his heritage as a Puerto Rican person and the American flag reflects how he and many Puerto Ricans occupy a kind of dual cultural citizenship, as Americans and Puerto Ricans.