SUMMER MURAL JAM 2000

Groundswell Community Mural Project ©
www.groundswellmural.org

July 29 & 30th, 2000

Groundswell's first annual Summer Mural Jam was held in summer 2000. The main objectives of the Jam were threefold: (1) to give past Groundswell participants the opportunity to return, connect with other youth and learn more mural making skills; (2) to give local artists the opportunity to give back to their community; and (3) to provide portable murals to community groups in the Brooklyn area. Out of applications for murals from community organizations, four were chosen. Each Lead Artist met with the community organization to discuss the needs and issues that they face and how they could best use a portable mural. Ten Groundswell alumni youth muralists and their families participated. The sixteen hour weekend retreat was held in a large loft space in Brooklyn and was dedicated to team building, design discussion, painting and drawing techniques and reflection. Volunteer artists and photographers from Puerto Rico and Cuba assisted and documented the process.

The project yielded portable murals for the following organizations:

Make the Road by Walking:
Youth & Community Organizing in Bushwick, Brooklyn
Acrylic on Canvas
Artists: Eric Miles, Menshahat Ebron & Evita Pagan

Fifth Avenue Committee:
Housing and Community Development in Greater Park Slope, Brooklyn
Acrylic on Canvas
Artists: Ricardo Galvez, Mauricio Trenard, Lorenzo Walters & Christopher Lewis

Children's Hope Foundation:
Services for Youth Infected by HIV/AIDS Citywide
Acrylic on Canvas
Artists: Barbara Schauwecker, Tenasha Knight & Shari Peters

Red Hook Youth Council:
Youth Driven Action Group Addressing Safety, Justice & Education Issues, Red Hook, Brooklyn
Acrylic on Canvas
Artists: Stephan Gaffney, Ramond Polanco, Stephan Vinson & Justin Murphy

Summer Jam was made possible in part by support from the Lily Auchincloss Foundation, XO Projects, Bagel Guys, the Buckley School and the Decentralized Program, and Brooklyn Arts Council.