𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐂𝐘 𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐅𝐓 𝐌𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐍 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐍𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐓𝐈𝐉𝐔𝐀𝐍𝐀

 Article compiled from Border Report article and social media comments on the mural

"Abrazo Mutuo" artists Alfredo "Libre" Gutierrez, Javier "Deported Artist" Salazar

A massive, vibrant mural called Abrazo Mutuo (Mutual Embrace) has transformed a section of the U.S./Mexico border wall in Tijuana into a striking symbol of unity, hope, and cultural resilience. The artwork, painted just a few dozen feet from the Pacific Ocean, stretches 200 feet wide and stands 30 feet tall. It features an eagle and a condor soaring side by side above a sweeping landscape, representing a Native American prophecy of reconciliation and harmony between peoples of the North and South.

Created by a team of local artists and volunteers, the mural was led by Alfredo “Libre” Gutierrez and Javier Salazar, known as “Deported Artist.” The project was funded by donors on the U.S. side and included contributions from Kumeyaay artists native to Baja California. It was completed over three weeks and officially unveiled on July 19 at Friendship Park, a historic meeting place along the border.

The central image of the eagle and the condor draws from an ancient indigenous prophecy shared by cultures across the Americas, including the Quechua, Hopi, and Mayan peoples. The eagle is seen as a symbol of the North, representing intellect, industry, and masculine energy, while the condor symbolizes the South, connected to intuition, nature, and feminine wisdom. According to the prophecy, these two forces were separated during colonization, but a time would come when they would reunite, ushering in an era of peace, balance, and spiritual healing.

Daniel Watman, one of the organizers of the mural, described it as a “silent protest” and a “labor of love,” meant to counteract the fear and division often associated with the border. “Love kind of overcomes this violent act of separation that has been implemented by U.S. border policy,” he said. “To have that prophecy displayed on the actual border is quite significant.”

Watman explained that the mural not only breathes life into a gray, prison-like wall, but also invites reflection on humanity’s shared roots and the possibility of unity through mutual respect and ancestral wisdom. The team hopes to install a plaque soon that will explain the meaning of the mural and the indigenous prophecy behind it.