Centennial Way Bridge Mural

Travelers on Centennial Way finding themselves on the pedestrian bridge over Colma Creek near Mission Road encounter a vivid blue mural bordering both sides of the bridge. Devoted to the migration of the Monarch Butterfly, the declaration, “Migration is Beautiful,” is written across the length of the wall with meandering butterflies surrounding the statement. The imagery on the opposite wall displays the life cycle of the butterfly ultimately transitioning to flight. The word “migration” is imprinted throughout in different languages.

The mural was conceived by the Skyline College Community Mural Project class. In designing the mural the students considered the impact of climate change on the Monarch Butterfly. This creature, threatened by habitat destruction, entered the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species as Endangered in 2022.

The mural also highlighted the theme of migration serving as a metaphor for immigration and representing the students’ heritage as immigrants or children of immigrants. Additionally, the location of a bridge suggested a transitional space taking the traveler from one side to another, also acting as an ideal metaphor for both human immigration and the literal butterfly migration from one place to the next.

The Skyline College Community Mural Project (CMP) guides students through the process of creating a public mural, from research and community engagement to the artistic techniques of design and execution.

Location

Centennial Way (pedestrian) Bridge and Mission Road, South San Francisco 94080  View Map