Grant Recipient for Artists 2020 - 2021
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As the recipient of a 2020-2021 Alachua County Major Grant for Artists grant from the Arts Council of Alachua County, I collaborated with two community organizations - GROW HUB, and GRACE Marketplace - in designing and creating two wall murals based on social and environmental justice. In both of these organizations I collaborated and worked with GROW HUB employees and GRACE guests in the planning and execution of the artwork. While I showed them how to create a mural, I learned a lot from them as well.
The murals provide an opportunity to bring public attention specifically to the difficulties of adults living with disabilities to find a way to enter the workforce, and to the homeless who need safe shelter, effective services, and permanent housing solutions without any of the typical barriers that keep people from getting help. The murals also serve as a collaborative opportunity for members of the communities to contribute to the process of painting the murals as well as completing them with added text.
The GROW HUB mural was completed April 14, 2021 with friends of GROW HUB making the final contributions with their names, quotes and drawings. The mural has been officially titled “ Instrument of Grace” from a quote by May Sargon- “Gardening is an instrument of grace.” This to me aptly encompasses what GROW HUB is all about; realizing, cultivating and celebrating the value of ALL children of the universe. I hope this mural communicates some of that sentiment.
The murals provide an opportunity to bring public attention specifically to the difficulties of adults living with disabilities to find a way to enter the workforce, and to the homeless who need safe shelter, effective services, and permanent housing solutions without any of the typical barriers that keep people from getting help. The murals also serve as a collaborative opportunity for members of the communities to contribute to the process of painting the murals as well as completing them with added text.
The GROW HUB mural was completed April 14, 2021 with friends of GROW HUB making the final contributions with their names, quotes and drawings. The mural has been officially titled “ Instrument of Grace” from a quote by May Sargon- “Gardening is an instrument of grace.” This to me aptly encompasses what GROW HUB is all about; realizing, cultivating and celebrating the value of ALL children of the universe. I hope this mural communicates some of that sentiment.
This mural is 33' wide x 9' high. The design highlights the adults living with disabilities who find meaningful work in the nursery. The life cycle of the collard plant as well as the Blanket flower and Coreopsis represent some native flora, while the Zebra and Monarch butterflies identify some native fauna. The water fountain painted to appear to be coming out of the actual drinking fountain on the wall suggests the Florida Aquifer system, the major source of our groundwater here in Florida.
See below for the process! Click on the first image for an enlarged slide show.
See below for the process! Click on the first image for an enlarged slide show.
Highlights while fighting the elements of cold weather and rain, of course!
A shout out to all who added to the mural with signatures, quotes, and drawings. Friends of GROW HUB - Shaquille,Sheryl, Joan,Herman, Amy, Dre’a, Melissa, Cyd, Bridgette, Logan, Gwen, Kyle, Patti, Dave, and Scott.
The GRACE Marketplace mural is a collaboration between myself, GRACE staff, and the guests staying at GRACE. It was completed April 8, 2021 with the names of homeless or advocates for the homeless who have passed on added by the guests, volunteers, and staff .
This was a collaborative vision and it truly does capture the spirit and energy of honoring the dignity, restoring hope, and creating lasting change for individuals who are homeless or at-risk of being homeless. Hence the official title for this mural: "Seeds of Love, Seeds of Hope, Seeds of Change".
This was a collaborative vision and it truly does capture the spirit and energy of honoring the dignity, restoring hope, and creating lasting change for individuals who are homeless or at-risk of being homeless. Hence the official title for this mural: "Seeds of Love, Seeds of Hope, Seeds of Change".
This mural is 20' wide x 8' high. The person in the mural is Arupa Freeman, a long time champion for the homeless in Gainesville, FL, who ministered to the needs of the people in the homeless camps through her Home Van while advocating for the homeless as a journalist for the Gainesville Sun. She passed away in 2019.
The GRACE staff and volunteers suggested her image as a starting point for the mural and gathered other ideas for the rest of the mural from guests of GRACE. The result is a collaboration honoring Ms. Freeman who is blowing dandelion seeds, which then are reseeding amongst the greens and yellows of life, and under the calm of blue skies. With the addition of names honoring others of a more individual and personal nature, this mural suggests the essential spirit of fostering love, hope, and change for the future.
See below for the process! Click on the first image for an enlarged slide show.
The GRACE staff and volunteers suggested her image as a starting point for the mural and gathered other ideas for the rest of the mural from guests of GRACE. The result is a collaboration honoring Ms. Freeman who is blowing dandelion seeds, which then are reseeding amongst the greens and yellows of life, and under the calm of blue skies. With the addition of names honoring others of a more individual and personal nature, this mural suggests the essential spirit of fostering love, hope, and change for the future.
See below for the process! Click on the first image for an enlarged slide show.
