Summer Leadership Institute Projects 2010
This Summer 80 youth and 12 artists worked in teams across Brooklyn to create five monumental works of public art. Dedication ceremonies for each project took place in late August and early September. For photos and video of the mural teams in action, please visit our tumblr and youtube pages. To visit any of the five projects, please see this map of their locations.
"Roots of Knowledge"
Community Partner: Brooklyn Public Library, Sunset Park Branch
Lead Artist: Belle Benfield Assistant Artist: Sophia Dawson
Location: 5402 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11220 (Sunset Park)
Brooklyn Public Library serves the borough's 2.5 million residents, offering thousands of public programs, millions of books and use of more than 850 free Internet-accessible computers. Groundswell youth collaborated with the staff at the Sunset Park branch to investigate the ways in which free access to knowledge is the backbone of a democratic society. The mural is a short walk from BPL's Sunset Park branch.
"Truth be Sold?"
Partners: Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation
Lead Artist: Katie Yamasaki Assistant Artist: Menshahat Ebron
Location: 2836 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11207 (Cypress Hills)
Groundswell's women's issues team, Voices Her'd, have painted a mural exploring the local and global ramifications of consumer culture. The mural depicts a story of overcoming obsessions with brand-name goods and advancing toward a commitment to community and life. The dedication ceremony will feature a performance by consumer activists Reverend Billy and the Church of Life After Shopping.
"Some Walls are Invisible"
Partners: Miles4Justice; Red Hook Community Justice Center
Lead Artists: Nicole Schulman & Chris Soria
Location: 162 Van Dyke Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217 (Red Hook)
As part of the NY400 celebrations that mark 400 years of history between the Netherlands and the United States, Groundswell has partnered with Red Hook Community Justice Center and Dutch human rights charity Miles4Justice to create a mural that recognizes the histories of human rights and tolerance shared by New York City and Amsterdam. The mural examines the ways that outward appearances create invisible walls in our society that stand as barriers to equality and justice.
"All Services Entail Tender Loving Care and a Listening Ear"
Partner: Black Veterans for Social Justice
Artists: Tess Korobkin & Chris Beck
Location: 665 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn NY 11206 (Bedford Stuyvesant)
Black Veterans for Social Justice staff and clients worked with Groundswell to transform their headquarters with a four-story mural that examines the lives, needs and stories of returning veterans.
"Connectivity Continued"
Partner: PS 506
Lead Artist: Crystal Bruno Assistant Artist: Tanya Linn Albrigsten-Frable
Location: 60th St & 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11219 (Sunset Park)
Brooklyn's Public School 506 prides itself on forging connections with its community of surrounding arts and media organizations. This summer youth muralists created a mural influenced by the school's focus on journalism and technology, inspiring the success of the school's students, staff and community in a technologically advanced society.
SLI is made possible in part by public funds administered by the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development Summer Youth Employment Program; the New York City Department of Education; and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
Groundswell is grateful for the support of New York State Senator Velmanette Montgomery; New York State Assembly Members Joan L. Millman and Félix Ortiz; the Office of the Mayor of New York City; the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President; and New York City Council Members Sara M. Gonzalez, Letitia James, Brad Lander, Steve Levin, Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., and Al Vann.