Austin Mural Honoring Selena Removed Before SXSW
Selena Quintanilla surrounds us all even after losing her almost 24 years ago, and Dallas based artists Jeremy Biggers and Hatziel Flores wanted to make sure la Reina was represented at the annual SXSW gathering in Austin, Texas. Unfortunately, the overnight surprise for the first weekend of the national event was immediately painted over less than a day later.
Biggers and Flores spent hours painting a purple ombre portrait of Selena calling out her famous song, “Baila esta Cumbia” in her signature font — the beautiful art perfectly depicted the late singer. “My eyes are so happy to see this!” commented one person on Instagram. “Very beautiful and above all remember it always,” another wrote on Facebook.
Although the artists had the owner’s permission to create the mural, the business itself didn’t have the proper city permits. “It’s one of those things that you attach yourself to each piece so to see it come down myself and Hatziel were just devastated,” Biggers told Fox.
The wall on which the masterpiece was painted on was part of a historical structure built in 1884 and is considered a landmark because of its architecture, making it an important matter for the city of Austin. The structure is now home to the business Mala Vida.
There are plans to recreate the amazing mural of la cantante at another location where it won’t be painted over and will rightful honor Selena’s memory. Our phones are charged and ready to take a picture with it this time!
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