The Life and Times of Dr. Martin Candelaria

Stairwell murals in Candelaria Hall, (1,400 sq. ft.), University of Northern Colorado, 1998-2000.

This work was painted in honor of Dr. Martin Candelaria, UNC's first Hispanic professor and beloved community leader.

To secure painting assistants for such a vast project, art students received University credit for working on these murals.

Family members, especially Dr. Candelaria's widow, Fay, assisted us in obtaining family photographs, sharing family history, recounting his WWI service, and much more.

The following description is taken from the brochure for the murals' dedication in August 2000.

The Candelaria mural weaves a tapestry of humanity through the depiction of nearly 7000 separate but related images, symbols and themes connected in the life of Martin Candelaria ca. 1985-1996, who joined the University's faculty in 1948.

Lower East Wall

The generation of new life, both temporal and spiritual, represented by the Morning Glory and the Columbine, overcomes the all-too-early deaths of both parents leaving Martin and his four brothers and sisters to fend for themselves amidst the pioneer American Indian and Hispanic cultures of southern Colorado and territorial New Mexico. The rest of this panel includes the experiences that led the boy to pursue a life of learning and teaching. Athletics, war, church, and family made lasting impressions on the young Candelaria. Literature gives voice to our deepest longings in the Jose Marti poem likening friendship to a pure white rose under the eyes of dozens of witnesses to Martin's life.


Large Panel West Wall

Youthful arms grasp and perpetuate the rainbow of kindness, discipline and hospitability that characterizes the best traditions of education at UNC. As the young people grasp a glimpse of the richness and vastness of the deep blue of the universe, the Creator of us all, by messengers as soft as doves and as regal as the tropical quetzal, unites all of us in a brotherhood of selfawareness and determination to make the world a better place

East-Facing Inside Panel

There the abuelita speaks to her descendents in stories, fables and "dichos" or sayings of the wisdom and rules for a good life while with respect and awe, the children absorb the cultural treasures they will willingly share with all mankind.

South Panel

The next panel relates themes from the Candelarias' arrival at UNC's doors. The wall is dominated by the literary images from Cervantes, Quijote y Sancho, in whom Dr. Candelaria saw two sides of the Spanish character. Dr. "C", as he was know, and his wife, Fay, a prominent teacher in her own right, are shown sharing their learning and experience on to others symbolized by the New Mexico style farol or lantern. A rainbow of cultures and hospitality emanates from an unlikely source to be received by eager hands.

North-Facing Inside Panel

Building for the future with adobe as old as the mountains themselves, these families cooperate at work while living in their hearts the traditional music and laughter that sustained generations of pioneers on a new continent.