the power of pictures

i walked over to Park Slope to view an exhibit about R.I.P. murals in Brooklyn. It was a tiny show organized by the Groundswell Community Mural Project, a really cool organization devoted to community involvement in planning and painting murals in Brooklyn neighborhoods.

a group of teens spent a few weeks documenting the history of the murals and interviewing friends and family of those who the murals commemorate. it was really compelling to learn the stories of the people behind the images.

to me, this is the essence of folklore, the field i studied in college. one uncovers the history of a group of people through how they choose to communicate that shared history artistically whether through visual arts, performance, or oral tradition. it is their distinct communication that defines them.


detail from a mural in my neighborhood (Baltic Street at Hoyt): this commemorates the life of Nicholas Naquan Heyward, Jr., a thirteen year old boy shot and killed in 1994 by Police who thought the toy gun he was playing with was real.



i was also really inspired by progress on one of groundswell's current projects at the corner of Degraw Street and 4th Avenue. The bright palette and graphic style create a profound visual impact admidst the industrial landscape. i'm anxious to learn the story behind this one.