A Vibrant Mural Celebration of Maya Traditions and Grandmother Earth’s Gifts by Evelyn Morán Cojoc

An Artistic Window into Maya Life and Symbolism

Under the shaded tent of the National Mall at the 2025 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, vivid paintings and an expansive mural brought the rich traditions of Maya Cosmovision vividly to life. These artistic creations by Indigenous Guatemalan artist Evelyn Morán Cojoc offered visitors a glimpse into the life cycles intertwined with significant crops native to the Guatemalan highlands, the land of the quetzal, Guatemala’s national bird.

The Murals’ Four Life Stages and Their Symbolism

The mural and accompanying paintings narrate a compelling story of life and nature’s nurturing through four key stages:

• The Fetus: Depicted within a womb shaped like a cacao bean, this element underscores the central spiritual and culinary role of cacao in Maya culture.
• The Infant: Shown blessing chili peppers, this stage reflects the everyday life of caregiving mothers and the multitasking skill often found within families.
• The Adolescent: Illustrated surrounded by beans with a hummingbird near her heart, symbolizing good news and ancestral messages, this panel also reflects youthful energy and connection.
• The Elderly Woman: Surrounded by maize and other staple crops, she embodies wisdom and the lifelong bond with the land’s gifts.

Community and Collaboration in Creation

Young artists from the local area, including Central American students Kevin Cabrera, Selvin Vail Diaz, και Jairo Vásquez, worked alongside Morán Cojoc to paint sections of the mural, enabling a rich intergenerational exchange of culture and knowledge. This collaboration speaks deeply to the Festival’s theme of Youth and the Future of Culture, embodying the transmission of heritage and collective creativity.

Symbolic Elements in the Mural

Representation of Nature and Direction

The mural incorporates the four cardinal points, each linked to a color of maize and carrying specific cultural meanings. These serve as guides inspired by ancestral knowledge:

At the center stands a young woman carrying four colored maize ears, weaving together heritage and life’s sustenance. Her clothing, a traditional huipil from Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, richly illustrates cultural identity — woven by hand and decorated with meaningful motifs like flowers and animals. The woman’s red woven hair accessory, or tupuy, symbolizes pregnancy and the nourishing journey through life.

Celebration of Music and Ancestral Paths

Το marimba doble, a striking musical instrument, features prominently on the mural’s right side, painting a sonic connection with the culture. Kevin, a skilled marimba player, even shared his musical talents, enhancing visitors’ immersive experience. On the left, the mural portrays Saq’ Be’, the ‘white path’ flowing over running water and mountains — a sacred journey blessed by ancestors rather than a fixed destination, symbolizing life’s ongoing spiritual voyage.

Textiles, Traditions, and Cross-Cultural Connections

Mayan weaving traditions also captivated visitors, with tangible examples presented at the Festival. Evelyn Morán Cojoc’s expertise in weaving, taught by her mother, connects her work to other Indigenous textile practices such as those from the Karen Weaving Circle of Minnesota. This exchange, despite language barriers, showcased the unifying power of traditional crafts across cultures.

The Mural’s Continuing Journey

After the Festival, the completed mural found a new home at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland. Here, Selvin leads Club Maya, which spreads awareness of Maya culture and contemporary perspectives, extending the mural’s influence beyond art into community engagement.

Cultural Legacy and Personal Touches

The process was as meaningful as the finished artwork. Dialogue during breaks included weaving terminology, favorite snacks, and storytelling about Maya weddings, enriching both artists and visitors alike. Morán Cojoc’s knowledge and the youth’s enthusiasm culminated in a vibrant community-making experience that goes beyond paint and canvas.

Why This Matters for Cultural Tourism

This mural project exemplifies the intimate link between art and cultural heritage and how immersive experiences like this can amplify tourism by inviting visitors to understand and appreciate indigenous worldviews and traditions deeply. Those who travel seeking authentic adventure and cultural connection will find initiatives like the Folklife Festival eye-opening and inspiring.

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Reflecting on the Richness of Personal Cultural Encounters

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Summary and Final Thoughts

Evelyn Morán Cojoc’s mural at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival stands as a radiant testament to Maya culture, the cycles of life, and the blessings of Grandmother Earth. The artwork’s rich symbolism, from cacao beans and chili peppers to maize and sacred paths, alongside communal collaboration, offers more than aesthetic beauty — it creates a living cultural dialogue. For travelers and cultural enthusiasts, engaging with such authentic arts and traditions adds layers of understanding to any journey. Platforms like GetExperience.com make these enriching experiences accessible, affordable, and transparent, ensuring that adventure activities, museum tours, and virtual workshops among others can all be seamlessly woven into one’s travel narrative.