Landmark Mural Restored for Opening of Whole Foods Store

A Hyde Square landmark since its creation in 1984, the anguished and exquisite “Taino” mural at the rear of the former Hi-Lo Supermarket received a facelift in preparation for the arrival of upscale grocery chain Whole Foods. The store .

The Boston Art Commission’s website describes the Taino mural as depicting the tribe’s wind goddess Huraca’n, from which the word for a tropical storm is derived.  She is flanked by two gods Guatauba and Coatrisque, who represent in Taino mythology the respective powers of thunder and flooding water.

It was originally painted by Rafael Rivera Garcia, a Puerto Rican university professor and artist, of whom little is known.   According to a 2004 Boston Globe article reprinted on the Jamaica Plain Historical Society’s website, the mural grew out of Boston’s relationship with Dorado, Puerto Rico, and "affirmed JP and Hi-Lo as the heart of Boston’s Latino community.”

In an email, Whole Foods spokesperson Heather McCready wrote, “The mural needed to be touched up because of some fading and chipping that had happened naturally over time.”

The effort was undertaken by Heidi Schork, director of the Mayor’s Mural Crew.  Schork noted that the mural previously received a major restoration in 2001 when the boldly colored work was taken down to its original paint, primed and repainted.  In the ensuing decade since she said that it had suffered water damage and fading due to its southern exposure.

“It will have to be done again,” noted Schork, who also painted the “Tropical Bird Murals” at the building’s entrance. 

Schork, who resides in JP, is responsibile for the creation or restoration of numerous public art projects in the neighborhood including three murals at English High, a recently completed work on the exterior of Centre Street’s , and another on JP’s Dimock Street

There is a mural attributed to Rivera in the Puerto Rican city of Guanica, and his work appears online in auction records.  Curiously, in a 1990 article, the New York Times reported that “a highly regarded Puerto Rican art professor” bearing the same name and year of birth as the local muralist, was acquitted of attempted murder charges in the shooting of his neighbor.

"I think he's dead," said Schork of Rivera, who was born in 1929.

With its use of black outlines, tormented and attenuated figures, and socially consciously themes championing indigenous peoples,  Rivera’s work bears some resemblance to that of Oswaldo Guayasamín, Ecuador’s greatest painter.

Schork battled the elements to complete the restoration in time for Whole Foods’ opening, said that the mural is consistent with the building’s architectural style, known as Googie.

“It’s an American mid-century architectural style used in hotels in New Jersey and bowling alleys that is characterized by little triangular roofs and broken-up signage,” said Schork.

“We wanted to restore the mural because we received a great deal of feedback from the community regarding its significance,” explained Whole Foods’ McCready, who added that the grocery chain made a donation to the Mayor’s Mural Crew in exchange for their restoration efforts.

“It’s a beautiful piece of artwork and we felt that it was important to maintain something that meant so much to the community.”