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Betsy Z. Casanas-Muralist-PublicArt

@bzcasanas

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Betsy Casañas is a Visual and Public Artist, an educator, and organizer. Semilla Arts LLC & Semilla Arts PR LLC. #muralista

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Semillas de la Diáspora": Culture, resilience and climate justice in Springfield with @bzcasanas 🇵🇷🇺🇸

Soaring four stories high above Chestnut Street in Springfield’s historic North End, this monumental mural by Philadelphia-based artist and activist Betsy Casañas delivers an unforgettable message of ancestral connection and community advocacy.

Titled "Semillas de la Diáspora" (Seeds of the Diaspora), the piece was created in partnership with @common.wealth.murals and @livewellspringfield to spotlight the neighborhood's grassroots fight for environmental justice.

Dominating the wall is an Afro-Puerto Rican woman dressed in traditional Bomba dance attire, standing resolute as a cultural guardian. In her outstretched hand, she holds a sacred mirror reflecting truth, memory, and dignity out toward the street.

Surrounding her head is a lush canopy of tropical flora, including broad banana leaves, ripening plantains and deep-purple blossoms that celebrate food sovereignty and island roots.

Transforming historic brick into an anthem for cleaner air, cultural preservation and neighborhood pride in Western Massachusetts.

Swipe left to see the upward street view and architectural details! 📸

📍 470 Chestnut St (North End), Springfield, Massachusetts, USA 🇺🇸
🎨 Artist: @bzcasanas (Betsy Z. Casañas)
🖼️ Title: Semillas de la Diáspora (Climate Justice Mural, 2023)
🏛️ Produced with: @commonwealthmurals & @livewellspringfield
📸 Photo by @street_art_around_the_world

#springfieldstreetart #betsycasanas #semillasdeladiaspora #commonwealthmurals #livewellspringfield #springfieldma #massachusettsstreetart #climatejustice #environmentaljustice #bombaart #puertoricanart #boricuaart #latinaartist #portraitmural #figurativeart #contemporarymural #muralism #urbanart #publicart #openairmuseum #wallart #streetphotography #streetartaddicted #jj_urbanart #globalstreetart A two-slide street photography post of a four-story building mural in Springfield, Massachusetts by Betsy Casañas titled Semillas de la Diáspora, depicting an Afro-Puerto Rican woman in a white and blue Bomba dress holding a handheld mirror surrounded by lush banana plants on a brick apartment building.

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A brief recap of Art & Community. A collaboration between @manhattancb11 Economic Development and Culture committee, Environment Open Space and Parks committee, and some of the artists who inspire the creative culture that defines us as a community. Cultural equity means that we are free to assemble, free to speak, free to create, and provide access to the arts. The murals that bring the public access plaza @senderoverdenyc to life were created by Betsy Casanas @bzcasanas and Maria Dominguez @mariadominguez991

@connieleecurated @artlivesherenyc @environmentopenspacenparks #committeeforarts #falloffreedom #artliveshere #culturalequity

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Freedom For All, a design by artist @airco_caravan says it best. Freedom to gather with our creative community on the public access terrace at Sendero Verde. Everyone is welcome to join Community Board 11 @manhattancb11 and Art Lives Here @artlivesherenyc in solidarity with @falloffreedom this Saturday, October 3rd. We’ll be there from 3:00-6:00 pm. Stop by, meet the artists, and friends that nurture the creative community. The entrance is between 1679 Madison Avenue and the community garden.

Art and Community is a gathering of artists and creatives in solidarity with their neighbors. All you need to do is show up, bring your friends and family.

The murals on the terrace and shown in this carousel of images were created by @mariadominguez991 and @bzcasanas

#artandcommunity #cb11 #artliveshere @connieleecurated

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A hidden gem on a sunny fall afternoon, and everyone is welcome to join us on Saturday October 3rd. 3:00-6:00 pm. Stop by and mingle with the artists and creative entrepreneurs that define community. Brought together by Community Board 11, @manhattancb11 and Art Lives Here, @artlivesherenyc during the Fall of Freedom weekend.

Find us on the public access space at Sendero Verde. Entrance is adjacent to 1679 Madison Avenue. The murals on site were created by @mariadominguez991 and @bzcasanas

@falloffreedom #falloffreedom #artliveshere #freedomforall #artandcommunity

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Some works in progress✨

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A time was had on Sunday! Thank you @tallerpr for an awesome day celebrating Lo Nuestro 🇵🇷 at the 2026 La Feria Del Barrio!!! Thank you @chuwi_pr for sharing your music and allowing me to draw you while you performed!! Thank you for supporting Vamonos Pa'l Monte and being such terrific community partners ❤️ @bzcasanas @el_jefe_de_bendiciones for supporting Vamonos Pa'l Monte!!
Thank you @marangelimr for connecting me to so many awesome folks and to ask the beautiful people that made La Feria a successful day in community in Philly. My heart is full!

Oct 17 2026! Vamonos Pa'l Monte goes live! From Independence Mall to Norris Square Park! Join me for a day of Joy and Remembering!
Let's gooooo!!!!!!!!
#vpm2026

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Mural created by @bzcasanas Betsy Casanas along the ramp @senderoverdenyc public access space in East Harlem. To see it up close enter through the gate mid block between 111th Street and 112th Street on Madison Avenue

#artliveshere #committeeforarts @manhattancb11 #publicart #muralart

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Reflecting on my most recent Philly trip! Great workshops, great artist talk moderated by Nicole Calderon at Taller Puertorriqueño, setting up our Philly based production studio, and making new friends in Norris Square. This 2 year project is almost ready and I cannot wait to share it with you!
See you all October 17 in Philly!
#vpm2026

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Las grandes ideas necesitan un buen lugar, y las grandes historias también.

En el estacionamiento de Saffra Cowork se encuentra un mural que representa El Fanguito, una comunidad cuya historia, identidad y resiliencia forman parte del patrimonio de Puerto Rico.

Es un privilegio contar con esta obra magistral de Betsy Casañas @bzcasanas , artista visual, educadora y activista comunitaria reconocida internacionalmente por transformar espacios públicos en lugares de memoria, encuentro y esperanza.

Su trabajo nos recuerda que el arte no solo decora un espacio: lo llena de significado.

En Saffra nos honra recibir cada día a nuestra comunidad bajo una obra que celebra nuestras raíces y el poder transformador de la cultura.

¿Ya has visto este mural en persona? Te invitamos a conocerlo durante tu próxima visita a Saffra Cowork.

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🥥🌴🪘 Loíza en Loisaida was never just an exhibition. It was an offering, a bridge connecting the shores of Loíza to the heart of Loisaida, carrying with it the stories, artistry, and ancestral wisdom of the Ayala family.

Culture has a way of bringing us back to what matters most. It reminds us to honor those who came before us, preserve the stories entrusted to us, and create spaces where community can gather, remember, and grow.

No matter where we come from, that heartbeat lives within all of us.

May we continue to carry it forward with the same love, reverence, and responsibility for the generations still to come. ❤️

Muse Gallery x Caps N Curls x Sixth Street

Special shoutout to @cultura.pa.lante @loisaidainc.center and @lasaladepepe for their support. 🫂

So gracious to @tswiffa for coming through to help us capture its essence 📸

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“Nosotros los ancianos contamos. Hacemos la diferencia", compartió Julia Ponce, miembro del Grupo Alegría, al que inmortalizaron en un mural frente al Centro Comunitario para Mayores de Norris Square (NSSCC, en inglés), en Filadelfia.

El Grupo Alegría, un conjunto de bailadores de bomba de la tercera edad, nació durante la pandemia del COVID-19, para ayudar a las personas mayores a socializar y a mantenerse activas.

Este colorido mural del NSSCC es el más reciente de una serie que homenajea al patrimonio puertorriqueño.

“Imagina que tu abuela está haciendo lo que más le apasiona, simplemente viviendo su vida al máximo. Solo intentamos plasmar eso”, compartió Kristian Casañas, quien dirigió el equipo de pintores. Su madre, Betsy Casañas, diseñó el mural junto con Celso González.

✨ Lee "Este mural en Filadelfia homenajea a un grupo de bailarines de bomba de la tercera edad", en el #LinkInBIo

📸: Amna Khalafalla (@photoamna)
✍️: Vicky Diaz-Camacho (@la.pica.fresa)

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It's #MuralDay, and we're celebrating with a story straight from the streets of Philadelphia. 🎨

A recently painted mural has breathed new life into the Norris Square Senior Community Center (NSSCC). On the two walls flanking the entrance, you can see images of smiling faces and swirling skirts, accented by a bright orange mosaic.

The mural pays tribute to Grupo Alegría—a group of elderly bomba dancers that NSSCC created as a way for seniors to socialize and stay active during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Being close to that type of work exposes you to how you can impact people's lives in different ways, just by simple interactions, a little bit more empathy, compassion, patience," shared Kristian Casañas, a Norris Square resident who led the team of painters. His mom, Betsy Casañas, designed the mural with Celso González.

👉🏽 Read "A New Mural in Philly Portrays a Group of Elderly Bomba Dancers" at 9millones.com #LinkInBio

✍️: Vicky Camacho-Díaz (@la.pica.fresaj

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