VOICES HER'D/ Beautiful Migration
BEAUTIFUL MIGRATION
Groundswell Community Mural Project ©
www.groundswellmural.org
Mosaic on Wall
16 x 20 Ft
2007
Lead Artist: Belle Benfield
Assistant Artist: Clare Herron
Youth Artists: Negesti Cantave, Michelle Carter, Mimi Cheung, Jaime Chan, Laura Castillo, Alexandra Flores, Miriam Fung, Andrea Gil, Jacinta Gonzalez, Rosalee Gonzalez, Danielle Ruiz, Elizabeth Yanes
Location: PS 503, 59th Street & 4th Ave, Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Community Partners: Trust for Public Land, P.S. 503
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
As part of Groundswell’s Summer Leadership Institute (SLI) 2007, a team of young women in our second Voices Her’d project this summer created a large-scale mosaic in response to urban environmental issues and as a tribute to women associated with the earth. The monumental mosaic is in the shape of a mother elephant and her calf. Butterflies float around the pair, tracing the curves of the school’s entrance.
The participants began the project by contemplating the notion that all actions are linked, and that this directly connects us, as individuals and communities, to nature. Within the silhouettes are images of female figures in mythology and history that are associated with the earth. The Egyptian goddess Isis, standing for all goddesses of the earth, is represented by the eagle at the top of the composition. Below, perched in a tree, is activist and environmentalist Julia Butterfly-Hill. Eco-feminist and Nobel Prize winner Wangari Mathaai is seen planting trees.
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The animals and plants were carefully chosen for their symbolic weight. The artists were drawn to elephants because they are revered as symbols of serenity, strength, wisdom, and a deep connection to the earth. The baby elephant represents the future, and the butterflies symbolize the cycle of cause and effect. Vines and roots illustrate humanity’s link to the earth and are a reminder of a collective history. The process of growing corn represents transformation and nutrition. The recycle sign affirms that individuals are not only responsible for each other, but also for the planet. In addition to addressing international concerns, “Beautiful Migration” uses symbols relevant to the local population. Sunset Park, where the piece is located, has a strong immigrant community. The white brick walls represent national borders, and the holes in them represent migration across borders, as does the boat in the river. |
“Beautiful Migration” is one of a number of public art projects completed by Groundswell for P.S. 503, adding to the existing murals in the school entranceways and playground.