[2005 Projects]
* A New Day
* The Higher We Climb...
* Home in our Eyes
* Voices
* Our Doors are Open to You
* 4th World Mural
* An Environmental...
* Roots & Wings
TEMA/ Roots and Wings
ROOTS AND WINGS
Groundswell Community Mural Project ©
www.groundswellmural.org
Acrylic on Brick
30 x 45 Ft
2005
Lead Artist: Amy Sananman
Assistant Artists: Juan Villanueva & Cara Earl & Menshahat Ebron
Youth Artists: Jazmin Berry, Clarisa & Julia Burgos, Steven Cabrera, Sheryl Cheung, Nygel Cruise, Ade Gee, Natasha Gonzalez, Anna Gutman Ben Howart, Geoffrey Kixmiller, David Li, Dante Pearson, Joshua Rene, Joyce Richardson, Oswaldo Rosa, Duane Smith, Julissa Soriano, Shayna Stevens, Michelle Straussberg, Sean Tanner, Jessica Tapia
Location: 280 Wyckoff Street , Brooklyn NY
Community Partner: Wyckoff Gardens Community Center
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The second mural at Wyckoff Community Center, “Roots and Wings” was created by youth in Groundswell’s TEMA (Teen Empowerment Mural Apprenticeship) program. Upon completion of the first mural at the center, “Train to Read” (see 2004 projects), the TEMA team met with Wyckoff residents and leadership to discuss a second project. The community spoke of four critical themes that they wanted the mural to address: Unity, Family, Employment & Education. The TEMA team related these themes to a famous adage: "There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings." - Hodding Carter Jr, Civil Rights Journalist. Unity and family give us roots; employment and education give us wings.
The team translated these ideas into a lyrical mural which uses a large bird as the central image. The bird soars on leaf-like wings and is also rooted in the earth. To the left of the bird is a community elder (based on Advisory Board member Ms. McLoren) teaching a Wyckoff youth how to plant. In the center is a family moving forward. All the portraits are from photos of actual Wyckoff residents. The mural was completed in late spring and a dedication ceremony held in June.
This project was made possible with public funds from Councilwoman Sara Gonzalez, the Department of Cultural Affairs & Brooklyn Borough President's Office, New York City Housing Authority, the New York State Council on the Arts administered by the Brooklyn Arts Council, Inc. as well as foundation support from the Levitt Foundation and our friends at Colgate Scaffolding and the Center for Urban Pedagogy. Special thanks to Wyckoff Gardens & NYCHA.