Strteet Artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada Honors Doctor Killed By COVID-19

The Queens Museum in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, located in one of the most affected neighborhoods of New York’s Queens City, was the spot where artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada chose to create a large-scale mural. The later pays homage to Dr. Ydelfonso Decoo, who was part of the SOMOS Attention Network Community and died for Covid-19.

More: Jorge Rodríguez-Gerada, Instagram h/t: allcitycanvas

Hence, the monumental piece Somos Luz is 20,000 square feet and captures the silhouette of Dr. Decoo with his blue medical uniform and a face mask. Moreover, the health professional was part of SOMOS Community Care, a network run by mainly Latino and Chinese doctors who treat patients from marginalized communities like Queens.

Furthermore, Gerada created this mural with the help of the immigrant rights organization Make the Road New York and The Neighborhood Museum. Thus, the piece is also a memorial in honor of those who lost their lives to Covid-19 at the epicenter of the pandemic; especially those from the African-American and Latino community.

“I want the mural to create a dialogue, I want people to understand that there is a disproportionate number of Latinos and African Americans dying from the coronavirus,” said the artist. A way to raise awareness in citizens about the cultural diversity of Queens, and the care that people must have in the face of the pandemic.