[2008 Projects]
SLI/ Water is the Life of NYC
WATER IS THE LIFE OF NYC
Groundswell Community Mural Project ©
www.groundswellmural.org
Acrylic on Stucco
38 x 28 Ft
2008
Lead Artist: Nicole Schulman
Assistant Artist: Crystal Bruno
Youth Artists: Stephon Samuel, Samuel Walker, Federico Tenorio, Christina Cacioppo, Dwight Vacciana, Lilyana Lucero, Zane Smith, Epigmenio JR Sosa, Johnathan Marrero, Ernessa De Rose, Geoffrey Kixmiller
Location: 209 4th Avenue (at Sackett Street), Brooklyn
Community Partners: Department of Environmental Protection
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
As part of Groundswell’s Summer Leadership Institute (SLI) 2008 Groundswell artists worked with a team of youth to create a monumental mural depicting the New York water cycle. The system of delivery of water from the rural New York to NYC is depicted in an effort to make New Yorker’s more aware of how precious their water is. The allegorical figure of Mother Nature hovers over the two main reservoirs that feed water to the city. The Sandhogs, the urban miners who dig the tunnels to bring the water to the city, are depicted digging a third water tunnel. Elements of the urban and rural environments are shown together in harmony while in the central image and focal point of the mural, people are encouraged to drink tap water in reusable bottles.
The mural is aimed at, “raising consciousness of how precious water is as a resource to us”, says team participant Christina Cacioppo. Alongside the mural the team also developed a pledge urging people to follow guidelines for water conservation. Anyone signing the pledge received a sticker also designed by the team. Fellow team member Zane Smith added, “This mural reflects the global issue of water as a precious resource, and as only seven percent of the world’s water is drinkable we shouldn’t take our water for granted”. Team member Federico Tenorio stated “the purpose of the mural is to also show where the water comes from and how it gets to us”.
The completed four story mural was dedicated in September and attended by the participants and families, community members and DEPCommissioner, Emily Lloyd. Debra Pucci, Director of Community Partnerships at DEP commented that “this project was a very effective way to educate the public about the importance of their drinking water, where their water comes from and why we must be careful and conserve this natural resource. It was a pleasure to work with Groundswell staff and young artists.”
View a slide show of the mural on DEP's website.
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