During our 2003 "Land and Liberty" tour sponsored by Global Exchange, it was intriguing to see familiar as well as new symbols that have evolved in response to the Mayan people's current struggle against the corporate usurpation of their lands and resources. Visitors to the Zapatista highland community of Oventic are greeted by a spectacular series of murals that cover the community food store, the public health clinic, elementary and secondary schools, and a rambling old cattle barn now converted to a community meeting center.

Passing through the barn door to meet with the Oventic village representatives of the schools, health clinic, and shoe factory was like a rite of passage. We entered under the dominating gaze of Emiliano Zapata, the 1910 revolutionary leader of the land reform movement. However, now sharing the barn wall with the Zapata is the portrait of a Mayan woman with a traditional red bandanna across her face so that only her eyes are exposed. The graffiti beside the read, "La mujer valiente es el corazon de la libertad" (At the heart of liberty is a valiant woman.")

Following the theme of the "valiant woman," a school mural features a mother defending her family and community with only her hands as a weapon as she pushes back the attack of an armed soldier. In another barn mural, she is portrayed as a Zapatista fighter standing parallel with Zapata. Her identity is concealed by pants and a ski mask. In her hand she holds a rifle to defend her community from attack by the paramilitary or by government soldiers.

A different theme emphasizing the importance of education for women is presented in a mural that stretches across a newly constructed interior classroom wall. This secondary school was built by volunteers from Mexico City. It portrays a dream-like image of a young girl holding a book. One side of the book cover portrays the brutality of colonization, and the other depicts the determined resistance of Zapatistas campesinos. The girl's hands, book, and face are surrealistically framed by her long, blue hair that flows horizontally across the wall like ocean waves.

I recall the Oventic's school coordinator who told us: "Education should train students to think for themselves, to understand the reason for our struggle ... to unite our voices against the globalization of poverty."

Corn is life to the indigenous people of Chiapas and therefore the land must be honored and protected. In many murals stalks of corn are innovatively portrayed. Within the corn, each kernel i recreated as a face covered by a black ski mask, the symbol of Zapatista commitment.

The Zapatista murals can be serious symbolic and humorous. They vary in style from stark black outlines of forms to the brilliant blending of colors that makes a group of women wearing ski masks, as portrayed on the facade of Oventic health clinic, seem like a flower garden of joy and hope.

During our Zapatista village visits my sketchbook was a constant companion. I rapidly sketched my impressions which the villagers were eager to see. Later in my Ashland, Oregon studio these pen and ink drawings became the catalysts for large symbolic paintings including "Zapatista Weaver" and "Chiapas Sunrise." Copies were then sent to Global Tours to share with those whose life experiences and resistance to oppression had inspired my work.