By Karin Olafson
“Over the last five years, I’ve really engaged in public art, having that focus and connecting with people on that humanity level,” she says, adding that she created a BUMP mural in 2023, contributed to the BUMP Festival Roadworks program in 2024 and is now a BUMP Roadworks mentor.
“I would say a lot of the work that I do is rooted in storytelling, cultural symbolism, exploring identity, community and my lived experience. I really love to express the things that I love the most: I love seeing colours, I love fluidity, I love the strength and joy that exists within us,” she says. “Bringing all those elements together to do artistic pieces is very personal, approachable and human.”
When the opportunity to apply for the Art Bus: Connecting Communities with Public Art initiative came up, La Güita knew she wanted to be part of the Calgary Arts Development (CADA) project.
“For me, a big part of creating art is making it accessible and approachable. How can people from all parts of the city see a work and find something that they can relate to?”
The Art Bus was a perfect fit. She applied in early 2025 and spent the first half of the year creating the work. Last summer, her art literally hit the street.
Like all La Güita’s work, her art on the city buses is bright, vibrant and distinctive — and rooted in cultural and emotional symbolism.
“I often work in this four-colour system; it’s a colour combination that I feel is so charged. There’s magenta, blue, orange, green: those colours remind me of all those visits to Nicaragua. When I think of going back home, I think of the smells of the delicious food, but also the vibrancy and colour and richness that’s there. I like to transport that visceral experience,” says La Güita.
The artwork includes upward-looking figures and swans emerging in the background. La Güita explains that the work is intended to represent love and healing.
“I like my figures to always either look up or down to capture a human emotion. I think looking up reminds people of looking forward to something, to stay positive through what’s going on all around. The symbol of the swan is very uplifting — that we can continue through life’s most challenging experiences. It’s a vulnerable image reminding people that, when we do reach out for human connection, it’s always there when we choose to do so,” she says.
She hopes the piece helps create human connection and inspires others to work through their own, individual healing journeys when they’re ready.
La Güita says the Art Bus project has broadened her connection with people and fostered connection with new people and communities, too. She adds that working with Calgary Arts Development has been game-changing for her artistic experience.
“CADA has been very nurturing. They’ve been supportive of me through years of doing work that felt really meaningful to me — and to have other people match [my artistic] energy has been really great.”