Healing Uvalde Mural Project: Houston-based artist calls Uvalde’s mural the ‘most influential’ of her career

Houston, Texas (KTRK) – Anat Ronen is an artist. But even she can’t paint a picture of the grief in Uvalde one year after the shooting at Rupp Primary School.

“(It’s) really an impossible combination of pain, horror, love, and beauty,” Ronen explained to ABC13 on Wednesday. “Just, everything together at once. I can’t think of anything remotely like that.”

Ronin, who is based in Houston, was among the Texas artists Monica Maldonado asked to be a part of. Healing Mural Uvald Project. The idea, which originated with Uvalde-based art professor and Abel Ortiz – along with Dr. Jorge Meza, was to help heal Uvalde while also memorializing the 19 students and teachers who lost their lives inside Robb Elementary on May 24, 2022.

During four hot, dry days in July in Uvalde, Anat – with the help of fellow artist Brett Johnson – donates her time and talents to paint a mural of 10-year-old victim Tess Matta.

During her interview, Ronen explained how this project, which she calls the most influential of her career, was different from others: “These were kids, and they deserve something else.” “To leave something so colorful and so full of life and death felt like it was the right thing to do. I hope it provides maybe a nanosecond in a day a little relief. Because, in the end, it’s the awful truth to stay for the family.”

The piece in downtown Uvalde is completed with pictures of Tess’s favorite team, the Astros, and favorite player, José Altuve. Ronin worked on the project with many of the Mata family who were watching.

However, this certainly wasn’t the last time Tess’ dad spent time on his late daughter’s mural. ABC13 visited Jerry Matta last August when the Astros hosted Offald’s Strong Day.

“I get out my folding chair and stare at the mural whenever I want,” Jerry admitted on ABC13 last year. “I pass on Main Street and see him every day — and I see her smile. I know she’s smiling at me. It feels good, you know?”

The Matas are one of the many Uvaldi families who have a black hole in their lives right now. Ronin gave this black hole some color – if only temporarily.

Anat admitted during the interview: “I hope we don’t talk now.” “I wish I didn’t have to go and paint that mural. But I’m glad I was a part of it, and I hope those murals help end these terrible situations where people do it.”

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