DreamYard & WHEDco installed murals created by BAC participants this past weekend on 165th St. between Washington and Webster Avenues. To celebrate we held a sharing with hot chocolate, a face painter, food and music. Our attendees had a chance to hear BAC artists talk about their work and ask questions during a Q+A session. 

The framework questions we used to create the murals were:

- What does art with a purpose look like? (Not art for art’s sake)

- How can art be available to a wider audience?

- How can art turn negative spaces into positive spaces?

- What is art that transforms neighborhoods?

- How can art respond to a site (neighborhood and architecture)?

Edwin Velasquez installing DreamYard/WHEDco murals on 165th St

                          The artist Sunshine standing next to her mural 

Sunshine’s artist statement: To begin thinking about the mural project we were asked “what do you see around the Bronx, specifically the South Bronx ?” Most, if not all, of the responses were negative. So I asked myself, why? Then I realized these reactions were stamped on the Bronx by outsiders.

The following assignment was to research the past fifty years of the South Bronx and create a timeline. We learned that not only were outsiders stamping the Bronx as a bad place, but the government actually redlined the Bronx and stopped funding Bronx businesses and housing. Because it’s where the minorities live. The only way people could make money was by burning their own houses down to get the insurance money. And the Federal Government not only redlined the bronx, they redlined many places, like Ferguson, Missouri. Did you know  to this day the Bronx is still one of the poorest boroughs in New York? Well we want to change that!   

My mural is a painting of a Rat, he’s a banker disguised as a rat, and his briefcase says “loans” but I crossed it out to say NO LOANS. I designed this to remind people of what happened and to let people know we can get past this oppression. I also want people to walk by my piece and for it to be mind provoking.

Celebration attendees gather to hear the artists speak about their murals

                       Kassie on the mic introducing the project 

   Sone speaking about Michela’s work (Michela is away now at college)

Jachina’s artist statement: My mural is a picture of a little girl and she is holding the Old Bronx Courthouse in her hands. She represents the future. The flower budding from her head symbolizes growth and prosperity for future Bronx generations. The courthouse she is holding up for all to see represents all the past injustice and how one day there will be justice in our future.

I believe art can turn negative spaces into positive spaces because art challenges people’s minds. The colors give people a certain kind of feeling when they see it. The image that it gives people - a picture can mean a thousand words, which starts a conversation. Art can change people’s view of their neighborhood and environment. It makes people think - what does this mean.

Michela’s artist statement: My mural depicts an African American woman as a "royal" from the Bronx. The woman is in a confident and calm pose, almost like a lion, because the Bronx has made her tough and strong. Due to her characteristics, she is a woman who deserves her seat as a leader. My work is inspired by the artist Kehinde Wiley, he poses models from African descent into positions of power. That is what I am trying to re-create in my mural painting.

I want this mural to remind the young girls that will pass by it to to stay strong and to continue to pursue a higher education so that someday, they may have their own throne that they may be proud of. People do not need to hide or be ashamed at the fact that they are from the Bronx. We can use the Bronx as a learning experience that will make us stronger when tough times in our lives begin to arise.

I believe art that transforms neighborhoods is art that relates to the people living in the neighborhood. Art can transform its surroundings. Art that is bold and loud not only attracts the attention of the people around it, but it leaves a beauty mark on the neighborhood that cannot be ignored.

And a special shout out to Tiffany Lumber for giving us permission to use their walls.

This project was funded by Art Place America