Somos Libres
by Cadex Herrera

About the Mural

"Somos Libres" (We Are Free) is a  mural in the city of St. Paul (near Wabasha St. and Kellogg Blvd.) in the "Barrio del Sol" (Neighborhood of the Sun), the main vicinity for Hispanic and Latinx citizens. The painter Cadex Herrera uses many vibrant colors in the work that represents his rich culture. Herrera was born in Belize in 1994, emigrated to Minnesota, and enrolled in an Art School. Herrera emulates his feelings about his ethnicity and his life's history with an appreciation for both cultures. He loves the state of Minnesota but also loves his past in Latin America. He creates mixed media art objects that focus on issues of racial justice, Latinx and Hispanic history and leaders, and mental health. 

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"Somos Libres" is a symbol of the combination of cultures in St. Paul (Mexican and Minnesotan). The focus of the work is three people; two women and one child, and the women are wearing colorful dresses, traditional clothing in Mexican culture. The three people could be three generations from one family–the grandmother, the mother, and the child. The family continues their cultural traditions while learning to love a new culture. The continuation can be seen with the fluidity of the work. Besides, there are many native tropical flowers from Mexico that symbolize the hot weather and Mexican heritage. The mural is also painted with many brilliant colors. Behind the women there's a Mesoamerican pattern which reflects the ancient Aztec calendar. It's a representation of the history and legacy of Hispanic people (specifically Mexicans) in the city.

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Furthermore, there are things in the work that can be attributed to the two cultures, Mexican and Minnesotan. For example, the ferns around the front are very common between the two places. Also, the butterflies migrate between the two. In the summer the Monarch butterflies live in Minnesota, and in the winter they migrate to the south (Mexico). It’s a symbol that represents the migration of Hispanic communities between Latin America and the United States. Change is good. Think about butterflies. They go through a metamorphosis and move to grow from a caterpillar to a butterfly. He shows the brilliant side of people that are probably nervous, worried, and unsure about their future in the United States.

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The mix between the two cultures and the cohabitation of both identities is shown in the mural. For example, the child wears a shirt with a loon in the center, a common symbol for Minnesota. The loon is the state bird of Minnesota, and is the mascot of Minnesota's soccer team, Minnesota United FC, which is in the Major League Soccer (MLS). Symbols like these connect a Latin American past to an American present in Minnesota.

In the mural Herrera uses the two cultures in their own right, as well as in combination. He separates the two identities but shows that the two distinct identities can be very similar and in reality have common ideologies and customs. It's in a predominantly Hispanic and Latino neighborhood. Also, there are many people in the neighborhood that migrated to Minnesota from Latin America that live similar lives now and lived similar lives before. It's a symbol to unite the people that live there, and makes it feel like home, or at least to not feel alone. The many circles, curved lines, and general reincarnation ideology depicts a rather upbeat view of change. It's important not to lose who you were, but also to grow and develop as a better and more complete person.