The Hummingbird Warrior

Painting his first mural was a powerful experience for artist David Ocelotl Garcia. But a few years ago, that mural, "Huitzilopochtli," was painted over, without permission. David set out to bring the mural back, but he didn't know how that would go. No one in Colorado had attempted what he was going to do. In the process, David discovered the beauty in not just making art, but reviving it.

To learn more about the Chicano/a/x Murals of Colorado Project, visit chicanomuralsofcolorado.com.

You can find the mural at 2895 West 8th Ave in Denver.

We’ve collaborated with Apple Maps to create a guide to the murals and special places you’ve heard about on Off the Walls. It features a map of some of the coolest public art in Colorado, plus photos of the murals we talk about on the show. To check it out, go to apple.co/Off-The-Walls.

Dancers with Groupo Tlaloc bless a mural by David Ocelotl Garcia on the side of Mana Supply Co.'s Sun Valley storefront. July 28, 2023.

Groupo Tlaloc members smudge David Ocelotl Garcia during a ceremony for his revived mural on the side of Mana Supply Co.'s Sun Valley storefront. July 28, 2023.

David Ocelotl Garcia plays drums as dancers with Groupo Tlaloc bless his revived mural on the side of Mana Supply Co.'s Sun Valley storefront. July 28, 2023.

Veronica Ramirez smudges Victor Escobedo during a ceremony for his revived mural on the side of Mana Supply Co.'s Sun Valley storefront. July 28, 2023.

Dancers with Groupo Tlaloc bless murals by David Ocelotl Garcia, Marco Antonio Garcia, Victor Escobedo and Alicia Cardenas revived on the side of Mana Supply Co.'s Sun Valley storefront. July 28, 2023.

Lucha Martinez de Luna, founder of the Chicano Murals Project of Colorado, speaks during a re-unveiling ceremony for David Ocelotl Garcia's mural on the side of Mana Supply Co.'s Sun Valley storefront. July 28, 2023.

Artist Emanuel Martínez attends a re-unveiling ceremony for David Ocelotl Garcia's mural on the side of Mana Supply Co.'s Sun Valley storefront. July 28, 2023.

David Ocelotl Garcia's recently revived mural on the side of Mana Supply Co.'s Sun Valley storefront was originally dedicated to his mother. July 28, 2023.

David Ocelotl Garcia's recently revived mural on the side of Mana Supply Co.'s Sun Valley storefront. July 28, 2023.

Hosts: Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams
Editor: Jo Erickson
Written and reported by Emily Williams and Kibwe Cooper
Mixed by Kibwe Cooper
Denverite editor: Obed Manuel
Additional editorial support: Kevin Beaty, Erin Jones, Rebekah Romberg, Luis Antonio Perez
Theme music by Kibwe Cooper. Additional music via Universal Production Music.
Artwork: Maria Juliana Pinzón
Photography: Kevin Beaty
Executive producer: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale
Thanks also to Hart Van Denburg, Jodi Gersh, Kyle Harris, Desiree Mathurin, Kim Nguyen, Clara Shelton, Rebecca Tauber, Isaac Vargas, Arielle Wilson.

This show was produced with support from PRX, and is made possible in part by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and a grant from the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation.

Off the Walls is a production of Denverite and Colorado Public Radio — part of the NPR Network.

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