Q&A with…Maria Esther Magallanes, who engages with immigrant, artistic community

DARIEN — A beacon of hope and guidance.

That’s what Maria Esther Magallanes, 52, feels when she sees a lighthouse, a structure she’s become fascinated with ever since her arrival in Darien more than a decade ago.

The Mexico City native meshes this New England charm with her Mexican roots, evidenced in a mural she painted for Building One Community, the immigration help center in Stamford formerly known as Neighbors Link Stamford.

Q: How long have you been painting for?

A: I’ve been painting for more than 20 years. I have a background in graphic design from the Ibero-American University in Mexico City and I’ve devoted myself to painting ever since.