[2008 Projects]
SUMMER LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE/ Reaching New Heights
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS
Groundswell Community Mural Project ©
www.groundswellmural.org
Acrylic on Concrete
12 x 160 Ft
2008
Lead Artist: Bayunga Kialeuka
Assistant Artist: Clare Herron
Youth Artists: Akeem Bedward, Courtney Byron, Michelle Carter, Devante Dudley, Ivan Jacobson, Camille Roberts, Kyle Rosen-Long, Hope Tenorio, Steven Tripari, Deborah Velez, Marie Elie, Eric Murray-Datcher
Volunteers: Camille Dixon, Shaniqua Adams, Ryan Smith, Luis Diaz-Albertini
Location: PS 221-791 Empire Blvd, Brooklyn NY
Community Partners: PS 221, Trust for Public Land
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
As part of our Summer Leadership Institute (SLI) 2008, Groundswell continued our ongoing partnership with the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and PS 221 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, to create a large-scale mural as part of TPL’s redesign of the school playground. TPL re-designs and transforms run-down or under-used public spaces in New York, turning them into parks that become community assets. ‘Reaching New Heights’ addresses the importance of creating green spaces in the city, with the bio-diversity depicted in the mural reflecting the diversity of Crown Heights as a community.
The mural celebrates nature and stresses the importance of green spaces in heavily built up urban areas. The imagery of trees, plants and birds also showcases nature as a metaphor for a vision of the communities of Crown Heights living in harmony and balance. The panoramic canvas was designed in such a way that the first half of the 160 ft wall featured the backs of the buildings flanking the courtyard. This area was also depicted with stormy clouds. The second half featured a park immediately next to it where the sky is clear with glistening sun rays.
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