Kmart marks 55th anniversary with mural, donation
Dave Rodney, Sears Holdings’ regional vice president for Puerto Rico.
Kmart marked its 55th anniversary on the island by unveiling a commemorative mural and announcing a $10,000 donation to the Puerto Rico Museum of Art to further the local arts sector and the Santurce community.
“Fifty-five years after our first store opened in Puerto Rico, we wanted to celebrate this milestone and show our appreciation to the community,” said Dave Rodney, Sears Holdings’ regional vice president for Puerto Rico.
“We are proud to unveil a beautiful work of art that celebrates Puerto Rican culture and history through the work of two spectacular Puerto Rican artists,” he said, of the mural created in collaboration with Puerto Rican artists Celso González and Roberto Biaggi of CERO Design.
The 600-square-foot mural is meant to depict elements of Puerto Rican culture and is located on the outside wall of the Kmart store in Guaynabo, one of 24 Kmart’s stores on the island.
The piece combines music, history and art to highlight Puerto Rican culture. The imagery represents elements of Puerto Rican culture, including: family, the “vejigante” mask of the famous Carnaval Ponceño, and musical instruments representative of parrandas.
“This artwork represents the family in constant transformation through unity and culture,” said González. “It is truly a great representation of what Kmart and our team hoped to accomplish with this piece of art.”
Along with the mural unveiling, Kmart will be presenting a check for $10,000 to the Museum to provide free admission and activities for the local community.
