Community Canvas is an initiative presented by The Culture Show where GBH features artwork from community members on our Digital Mural.
Today’s mural, Sky’s Beginning by Paulina Mendes, shows the artist’s hand reaching up towards the sky, surrounded by birds flying free. This hand symbolizes the struggle, strength, and hope that comes with being a first-gen Afro-Latina student.
The birds flying around the hand are representative of freedom, pushing above circumstances and showcasing the limitless potential that we’re all capable of.
“This piece is for anyone who’s ever been looked down on or told they wouldn’t make it,” Mendes says. “We’re proof that no matter where we come from, we can outstretch our hands and reach. The sky isn’t the limit, it’s just the beginning.”
See more of Mendes’s work on Instagram @mjs_artbook
