Somber dedication of Oakland mural at which artist was slain

Leano Rice, brother of slain muralist Antonio Ramos, gives a passionate speech at a dedication ceremony for the Superheroes Mural Project on West Street in Oakland, Calif. on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015. Antonio Ramos was shot and killed while working on the mural on Sept. 29. less Leano Rice, brother of slain muralist Antonio Ramos, gives a passionate speech at a dedication ceremony for the Superheroes Mural Project on West Street in Oakland, Calif. on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015. Antonio ... more Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Somber dedication of Oakland mural at which artist was slain 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

Despite the bright colors of the newly completed mural below an overpass on Interstate 580 in Oakland, Wednesday was somber for the friends and relatives of Antonio Ramos, one of the muralists on the project, who died Sept. 29 after a scuffle on the job turned deadly.

They turned out for a celebration of Ramos’ life and the dedication of the finished mural Wednesday afternoon, at which Ramos’ family condemned the all too familiar violence that has plagued West Oakland.

“How many walls do we have to paint for this to stop?” Leano Rice, Ramos’ older brother told the crowd as he stood in front of the mural. “We have to look at the infrastructure of what led up to this today.”

Oakland police found Ramos suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on Sept. 29 while working on the antiviolence mural. Officers continue to look for a person of interest, and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of Ramos’ killer.

Ramos, 27, of Emeryville, had been working on the 4,000 square foot mural in the 3500 block of West Street with about 60 other artists through the Oakland Super Heroes Mural Project. The mural he contributed to is the third from a collaboration with Oakland middle-school students.

“Today is a day of mourning, a day of reflection, a day of celebration,” David Burke, art director of the mural project, said at the unveiling. “I’d like to say to Antonio’s family ... every time we made a mark on this wall, we did so to honor your son.”

While the community tries to recover from a senseless killing committed during neighborhood outreach, Amana Harris, executive director of the nonprofit that sponsored the mural, said it’s important to paint the full picture of the area as she dedicated the mural to Ramos.

“Despite what some may say, there is so much love and beauty in the community,” Harris said.

The wall, depicting children flying over colorful buildings and watering trees with giant cans was conceptually designed by students of West Oakland Middle school seeking to create superheroes of themselves, Harris said.

“This project is about hope, imagination and beauty from the inside out,” she said. “It’s an effort to take back our community.”

Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf gave a few words on the mural before the ribbon was cut by 8-year-old Charlena Howard, whose likeness was used in the painting.

Schaaf said when she first became mayor she had made a point of supporting Attitudinal Healing Connection, the nonprofit violence prevention group that sponsored the mural.

“Not in my worst nightmares did I imagine I’d be here today grieving,” she said. “We’re standing in front of everything that is right about Oakland and everything that is wrong about Oakland.”

Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno