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Reflections of Ourselves and Each Other

 

Seeing Through a Unique Lens

 
 

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discover phase

Our team launches into the program, by partnering with a behavioral health provider, a muralist, and a mental health peer specialist. We begin our workshop series, exploring mental health topics related to an individual’s recovery and community based topics. From there, we expand our partnership base with key community groups to engage broad sections of the community in the program. Through our workshops and our public open studio event, we develop the mural theme and cultivate neighborhood advocates and ambassadors for the program.

 
 
Event hosted at The Point in the Bronx to discuss the mural theme with residents and students.

Event hosted at The Point in the Bronx to discuss the mural theme with residents and students.

Exploration event at Casita Maria to create symbols and share ideas for the mural design.

Exploration event at Casita Maria to create symbols and share ideas for the mural design.

design phase

Once we have the mural theme, we expand our conversations and engagement activities to explore stories and symbols that will inform the mural design. We continue our workshop series and host two more public open studio events to collectively come up with what the mural design will become. Through this participatory design, we share a draft of the mural design and present it at community design reviews to capture feedback and refine the mural. Once the mural design is approved by community members we send it to print.

 
 
Artists and event participants jump into spoken word during a painting event.

Artists and event participants jump into spoken word during a painting event.

Muralist, Aaron Lazansky (SpaceCraft) helps people paint the mural.

Muralist, Aaron Lazansky (SpaceCraft) helps people paint the mural.

Deploy phase

After the mural design is approved we print the design at a 100% scale as a black and white image. During additional workshops we prepare the paints and outline the mural panels using a color by number system. The mural panels are transformed into a large coloring book in preparation for our larger Paint Festival. We host a large festival and other smaller events for people to come paint the mural, learn about mental health services, and engage in other wellness and art activities.  Our team of artists complete the murals in the studio, adding texture and details for a professional finish. We then install our murals on community walls and celebrate nine months of work with the hundreds of people involved in the process.

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Overseeing the installation of the mural over 50 feet above ground that overlooks the elevated subway lines.

Overseeing the installation of the mural over 50 feet above ground that overlooks the elevated subway lines.

Residents and artists celebrate the completion of the mural with the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene during the dedication ceremony.

Residents and artists celebrate the completion of the mural with the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene during the dedication ceremony.