Public Art Projects: Riker's Island Murals
"The World is Yours, West Indies to the Seven Wonders" 2018, EMTC, Rikers Island, NY
Community Partners: Groundswell, NYC Dept of Correction
About: Created with incarcerated youth in 4 Main of EMTC on Riker's Island. As a “Part II” to the previous mural, they wanted to launch beyond NYC and travel the world. In our discussions, we discussed foreign places they want to go to and how being able to travel the world is the ultimate freedom. They spoke of wanting to fly to the West Indies, Rome, Brazil, eventually leading to Seven Wonders of the World: Great Wall (China), Chichen Itza (Mexico), Taj Mahal (India), Petra (Jordan), Roman Colosseum (Italy), Machu Picchu (Peru), and Christ the Redeemer (Brazil).
"Coming Home This Summer" 2018, EMTC, Riker's Island, NY
Community Partners: Groundswell, NYC Dept of Correction
About: Created with youth living in 4 Main of EMTC, Riker's Island in 2018. Because these young men were already serving short sentences and to be free relatively soon, they just wanted to make something beautiful that reflects that feeling they’ll have riding back over the Riker’s Island Bridge on the Q100 bus, returning to their lives in NYC with still a little summertime left.
"The Flow of Time" 2018, RMSC, Riker's Island, NY
Community Partners: Groundswell, NYC Dept of Correction, SCO
About: Created with youth from assorted housing units in RMSC (Rosie's) and painted in "Rover's Hallway." Participants in this project were experiencing extreme anxiety about their upcoming court cases and constantly trying to make the "right" decisions. The concept of time and how warped it can feel while incarcerated became the overarching theme, depicted through spiraling clocks, mazes, and arrows. Though a bit dark psychologically in subject matter, the message is still positive: In time with the right decisions one can overcome and reach their "trophy."
"The Walk to Freedom" 2017, GMDC, Riker's Island, NY
Community Partners: Groundswell, NYC Dept of Correction
About: Created with youth living under protective custody while awaiting trail in 8 Upper Main, GMDC. During the research/design process we did art activities as well as writing and reading, including lyrics by Leonard Cohen (“Bird on a Wire”) and the rapper Nas. We wanted to reflect the moment they all can’t stop thinking about: The day they walk out of Riker’s and are free to restart their lives.
"The Path from Knowledge to Freedom" 2017, GMDC, Riker's Island, NY
Community Partners: Groundswell, NYC Dept of Correction
About: Created with young men from 6 Main, GMDC, they had a very specific vision including a central figure writing and studying, portraits of their heroes, and stairs leading to the exit of freedom. Original design had included portraits of Malcom X, Tupac, and Huey Newton. Revisions were requested, leading to the portraits of MLK, Rosa Parks, and Maya Angelou.
"The Chains, The Maze, The Mountain Top" 2017, GMDC, Riker's Island, NY
Community Partners: Groundswell, NYC Dept of Correction, SCO
About: Co-Lead with artist Jess Poplowski and created over 20 sessions with a dozen incarcerated young men from 2 Main, GMDC, Riker’s Island. DOC’s design directive was for the mural to reflect “hope.” They youth wanted to reflect the anxiety they were facing, the mental maze, the desire they have to “break the chains” to physically and mentally overcome this current setback.
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