PAHTIA is an interactive site-specific interactive mural that creates shifting soundscapes in response to touch. This project was created in collaboration with local high school students and a professional muralist, Nanibah Chacon, during the summer of 2023.

This work was created by asking the question: How can we create spaces for community and individual healing? How does the activation of a space contribute to healing? This piece references ancient healing practices that utilize sound frequencies to activate healing responses within the body and mind. Meso-American and pre-colonial design inspired the mural. Many Aztec, Mayan, and Anasazi structures were built to act as public amplifiers, resonating with the frequencies of music and chants used in ceremonies. Our piece is in dialogue with the Meso-American architectural elements used and referenced in the design of the National Hispanic Cultural Center by architect Sofia Marquez. It can be visited during museum hours.

This project is funded by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2006524.