[2006 Projects]
* Hunger for Knowledge...
* Follow Your Vision
* Our Community
* One Community Many...
* One World Unity
* Weeksville: Past Forward
* DEJA-VU: Which Path Will...
* Unity Arches/ Learn
Love...
* Yesterday I Dared to...
* Feels Like Home...
MAKING HIS'TORY/ DÉJÀ VU: Which Path Will You Choose?
DÉJÀ VU: WHICH PATH WILL YOU CHOOSE? MAKING HIS'TORY IN EAST HARLEM
Groundswell Community Mural Project ©
www.groundswellmural.org
Acrylic on Wall
45 x 30 Ft
2006
Lead Artist: Eduardo Alexander Rabel
Assistant Artist: Alex Pimienta
Youth Artists: Travis Agosto, Jalissa Garland, Veronica Fullard, Jarei McKeiver, Antonio Mercer, Darron Montero, William Noel, Clifford Poulard, Darrion Roscoe, Jamel Tingman, Lucas Vega, DaShawn Wilson
Community Partner: Hope Community Inc. East Harlem
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
As the first mural in Groundswell's "Making His'tory" series, this mural dealt with the particular issues and challenges faced by teenage boys and young men in the East Harlem community.
The participants were a group of twelve youth, ages fourteen to eighteen, who had signed up for summer jobs at either Strive or Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center. They were employed as part of either the NYC Summer Youth Employment Program or the NY Times/TASC summer jobs program. Most of the participants were residents of East Harlem, except for a two who lived in central or west Harlem. For many of the participants, the project was their first job.
Through brainstorming sessions and lively group discussions, the participants examined the issues facing young men in the community, such as gangs, drugs, violence, police harassment, incarceration, and lack of decent jobs. They also discussed possible solutions to these problems, such as education, supportive families, sports, arts, religious faith, and cultural and historical awareness. Through lively debates, participants learned from each other about the complexity of these issues.
The participants learned about expressing ideas visually, through hands-on workshops, visits to other murals in the neighborhood, and a field trip to El Museo del Barrio. (The visit to El Museo was a first for many, if not most of the participants.) Through drawing and collage exercises, the group developed their own symbols and compositional ideas to express their theme.
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The final design depicts a teenage boy in the middle of a path that leads up towards his future. Behind him are his family-father, mother, and little brother. On the left side of the path are the negative activities that tempt him, and a twisted, dead, tree leading up to the consequences of these negative choices. On the right side of the path are positive choices such as singing, reading, writing, sports, and family. A living tree with green leaves leads up to the successful consequences of these positive choices- graduation from college and a variety of job opportunities. Finally, at the end of the path is a bright sun in a sky of lavender and blue, surrounded by images that represent the different aspirations of the teenage boys who participated in the project-a good father, an NBA player, a clothing entrepreneur, a lawyer, a cartoonist, and a judge. |
Over four stories tall, the mural brightens up the neighborhood, both literally and figuratively. Its bright colors, dynamic composition, and bold symbolism invite the attention and admiration of all who pass by. The mural's presence also motivated Hope Community to transform the community garden adjacent to it, planting new flowers, trimming overgrown tree branches and creating a welcoming space which is ideal for contemplating the mural and its message of hope.
This project was made possible with support from National Endowment for the Arts, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Rush Philanthropic/ Pepsi Hip Hop Challenge, Starry Night Fund at Tides Foundation, Utrecht Art Supplies, Colgate Scaffolding, Valspar Paints, Lowes and the generosity of individual donors.