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Artist turns parking lot into giant mural honoring health care workers

VIDEO: Large-scale mural in heart of Manhattan honors nurses on the frontlines
0:57
Large-scale mural in heart of Manhattan honors nurses on the frontlines
ABCNews.com
ByTommy Brooksbank
June 19, 2020, 4:42 pm

A giant piece of artwork dedicated to medical professionals has appeared in New York City, honoring those who put their lives on the line to save others amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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The mural spans over 27,000 square feet and fills an entire parking lot of the Queens Museum. Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada -- a prominent contemporary artist best known for his massive, aerial, composite portrait of diversity, "Out of Many, One" on the National Mall in 2014-- is the painter behind the masterpiece.

PHOTO: Artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada created a 20,000 foot mural outside the Queens Museum in New York City to honor healthcare workers battling COVID-19 in America's hospital rooms.
Artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada created a 20,000 foot mural outside the Queens Museum in New York City to honor healthcare workers battling COVID-19 in America's hospital rooms.
GreenPoint Innovations for Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada

"I wanted to create a place where people could come together and mourn," Rodriguez-Gerada said. "Everyone feels alone, everyone's been stuck in their homes for months on end and it's a spot where people can reflect on the toll coronavirus has taken."

PHOTO: Artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada created a 20,000 foot mural outside the Queens Museum in New York City to honor healthcare workers battling COVID-19 in America's hospital rooms.
Artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada created a 20,000 foot mural outside the Queens Museum in New York City to honor healthcare workers battling COVID-19 in America's hospital rooms.
GreenPoint Innovations for Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada

The mural was commissioned by SOMOS Community Care, a health network comprised mainly of immigrant Latino and Chinese doctors treating those in marginalized communities. The project's design was based on conversations with advocates to highlight the fact that communities of color continue to be hit hardest by COVID-19.

MORE: Large-scale mural in heart of Manhattan honors nurses on the frontlines

"I named it 'Somos La Luz' which means 'We Are The Light' in Spanish because these health care workers, many of whom are immigrants, have been a shining light in all of this darkness," Rodriguez-Gerada said. "It's also a nod to lighting a candle as you mourn."

PHOTO: Artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada created a 20,000 foot mural outside the Queens Museum in New York City to honor healthcare workers battling COVID-19 in America's hospital rooms.
Artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada created a 20,000 foot mural outside the Queens Museum in New York City to honor healthcare workers battling COVID-19 in America's hospital rooms.
GreenPoint Innovations for Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada

Rodriguez-Gerada said the artwork took a week to complete with the help of a handful of volunteers.

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  • May 18, 2020

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  • Jun 03, 2020

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  • Jun 19, 2020
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