An artist from Fort Worth has started painting a mural to celebrate events surrounding the Major League All Star Game. The All Star Game will be held at Globe Life Field in Arlington July 16.
Juan Velazquez is painting the mural on the side of Artes de la Rosa Cultural Center on Main Street near the Fort Worth Stockyards.
MLB says the mural will "pay homage to the Hispanic community in Fort Worth, showcasing the evolution of Latino and Latina baseball and softball players accomplishing their dreams."
"It's interesting to see the ties between art and sports, how they both bring people together, right?" says Catalina Villegas, MLB's director of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Villegas says the league is working to ensure it connects with the Latino and Latina circles both to draw fans to the game but also create a greater sense of community in Major League cities.
"For kids, regardless of what their background is or how big their dreams are, they can see themselves in the mural," she says.
Velazquez says the mural will show a child daydreaming. The mural will include the child playing tee-ball, then show a high school and college baseball player followed by a Major Leaguer.
"Everything I do has a reason behind it," he says.
Velazquez says the mural aims to show kids the importance of setting goals for themselves so they can learn what will be needed to reach those goals. He says he did the same himself after leaving the military and starting his career as an artist about four years ago.
"I'm just happy to do this, anything extra out of it is just a bonus, but I'm just happy to paint," he says.
The top of the mural will include several famous ballplayers and the Fort Worth skyline.
"I try to keep it in perspective, just to be alive, just to be in Texas, just to be able to paint in the city I love, that's all I need," Velazquez says.
Velazquez plans to finish the mural and have an unveiling the week before the All Star Game.
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