CITYarts celebrates its 268th Mural Project at Ribbon Cutting

On Friday, October 26^th, CITYarts held a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the completion of its 268^th mural project “Heat Dances to the Sun’s Beat”, part of the Engaging Graffiti Kids in Creation not Destruction mural program. Participating in the ceremony was the Deputy Commissioner Kevin Jeffrey, Tsipi Ben-Haim, artist James Evans and Adam Peachy, volunteers and guests.

Baruch Park Mural project completed!

The finishing touches have all been made as the Baruch Park Mural project "Heat Dances to the Sun's Beat", is completed and soon to be celebrated at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on the 26th of October, at 3:30pm. Many thanks to the artists, artist assistants, volunteers, to all the sponsors, and supporters who have contributed throughout the development of this Mural. This is a true monument of awareness and encouragement to the community, that will last for generations to come.

"CITYarts is proud to present its 268th public project. It is our responsibility to engage youth in becoming a part of the solution to reduce global warming. To achieve this, we have created a mural that raises environmental awareness."
- Tsipi Ben-Haim,
Executive & Artistic Director

ROCKCORPS rocks Baruch Park!

Who Thought Questionnaires Were So Useful

While absently flipping through the CityArts volunteer questionnaires I came across inspirational answers. The answers that jumped at me this slow summer afternoon were filled with excitement and gratitude for the Baruch mural that is almost complete.

Question #8- Why do we need art in our lives?

- "To express how we feel without hurting others. To release any form of stress."

- "To make us smile, and brighten up the place."

- "Beautiful artwork inspires me to do art."

- "It gives the world a new look."

- "Art and other forms of creativity create balance in our lives."

Balance is especially important when you don't have the best environment. The volunteers from the Grand Street Settlement really captured the essence of the mural. Often times people tend to get wrapped up in the deadlines and arrests of life, but when you step back and observe you are less concerned with the little things and more receptive to the bigger picture. One volunteer wrote, "this particular mural comes to show that people do care about others."

What is glorious about the execution of murals is the social expression. One question in the questionnaire asks, "What do you imagine it is like to be an artist?" and one volunteer writes, "lots of wine, studio apartment and canvases everywhere." Even though painting in solitude is fine, intimate, and dandy, murals bring people of all backgrounds together to partake in one thing, "art".

- Nico, CityArts summer intern

A World of Magic: Disney Visits Baruch Place

Helping Hands

August 10, 2007


August 10, 2007

Things are moving swimmingly along at Baruch Park. Yesterday cheerful volunteers from the Lehman Brothers banking corporation came and exercised their creative talents by helping paint. James Evans organized the volunteers and a weeks worth of work was completed in one day! During our lunch break of Ray’s pizza Tsipi Ben-Haim, the executive and artistic director of CITYarts, talked to the volunteers and thanked them for their support. Listening to her motivating and visionary words renewed my faith in the project. This mural is a positive force in the neighborhood and as put by Michelle, CITYarts Scholarship winner; “We are bringing smiles into the neighborhood”. Michelle is right. We are brining joy and hope into a neighborhood that, at times, lacks these qualities. Watching this mural grow and transform has been one of the most rewarding opportunities of my young life and I can only imagine the impact it has made on the youth from the neighborhood. The Volunteers seem to understand the positive impact they were making and worked diligently, leaving their permanent mark in the community. With their help the underwater scene is almost complete. Outlines and further details were added by the volunteers making the sea creatures pop. A fanciful and whimsical seascape is coming to life and catching the eyes of the neighborhood. “You guys are doing beautiful work” was one comment made by neighborhood local while passing by the mural, further encouraging the group.
Bill Moakler, who created the CITYarts mural “Longfellow” in 1992, also joined the large group yesterday, bringing his artistic talent and enthusiasm to the mix. I was able to talk to Bill for a bit, asking him questions about his own art work and his history with CITYarts. He expressed his loyalty to the organization which has shaped his own life and brought him in touch with the youth of New York City. Bill quickly became one of my favorite people in the project. His veteran experience is admirable and has helped guide the hands and minds of James and Adam on their first mural project.
Overall the day was a huge success and passed quickly with lots of laughing and painting. Next week we look forward to getting further help from RockCorps, Vision Urbana and volunteers from the Trinity Wall Street Chruch!

Try to stay dry with all this rain!
Until next week,

Francesca
CITYarts summer Intern

Broad Strokes: Interning at CITYarts in NYC

Even as the days get hotter our painters, James and Adam, along with the many volunteers and interns, faithfully return to the Baruch mural. Day by day the underwater scene seems to become more and more vibrant filling with sea creatures and now scuba divers! We’re also adding some people among the rolling hills – walking their dog, feeding the birds, etc. Overall the mural is becoming a very beautiful and colorful piece of work that the community seems to be embracing nicely. As children play in the surrounding playground they often come by and ask us questions about what we’re doing and seem very interested and willing to help. Even the adults from the community ask if they can help paint something.

Next week is going to be a very busy and important time for CITYarts as we add more to the mural with the many new volunteers and groups coming by to help.

Stay cool,

Catie – CITYarts intern

A Wonderful Welcome.

It’s wonderful to come back to New York after a month away on the road to find the mural project at Baruch Playground going full steam ahead. We are engaging not just kids from the community, but college students, parents, and many wonderful volunteers. As Michelle, our scholarship recipient told me, we are getting wonderful responses from the neighborhood. They say how beautiful it is already and how it changes the community. It’s good to see how the artists, our staff, and all the volunteers are working in concert to make a difference for all.

Mithra Birdie, our partner from Pakistan Pieces for Peace joined me to see the mural and was inspired to stay and paint. Here she is with me in the photos and volunteers from the Grand Street Settlement.

-Tsipi Ben-Haim, Executive and Artistic Director

Making Waves at CITYarts!

Water World

Last week, we finally started painting more detail. The train moving forward to the sky was almost completed. I helped Adam paint the reflection of the light and water on the top and bottom of the train. Since it required elaborateness, I had to concentrate on the lines and it took several hours to finish them. Jamie and other interns and volunteers added more underwater creatures on the bottom and painted them with gray and orange paints. Under the water, the seaweed is waving, the octopus is dancing and the sea turtle swimming peacefully. It is about fantasy, so the design doesn't have to be literal.
Each day we had a different group of young volunteers and Adam, Jamie and CITYarts interns had to watch the kids work safely and teach them how to paint. In such a hot day, the kids seemed to enjoy painting and being involved in this huge project. They kept asking us about the mural and tried to show their painting ability to each other.
As time goes by we can see more of the mural and it makes us more excited. I hope everybody enjoys painting and takes care of themselves on the scaffolding. :)

-Yuri, CITYarts Intern

A Start on the Sky

Last Thursday, CITYarts interns, a host of volunteers, Jamie, and Adam all continued making progress on the mural. The task set forth for the day was to begin work on the sky and the upper portion of the mural. What at first seemed to be a daunting task proved to a lot of fun for the artists and volunteers alike! Bright oranges, pinks, yellows, and reds had been chosen by the artists for the sky. After using so many different shades of blue for the expansive ocean below, it was a great change to be using warm colors to paint a beautiful sunset. While some of the interns and volunteers opted to use rollers to paint the larger, smooth parts of the sky, others chose to use the smaller brushes to paint around the clouds and apply paint to the cracks in the wall. Jamie and Adam were continuing to sketch in the clouds and other details on the mural as we began to paint. As the afternoon unfolded, we could start to feel the rain showers coming. We stopped painting for the day in order to give the paint layers that we had just applied to the wall enough time to dry before the weather turned. Nonetheless, we still made a great deal of progress for the day on the sky. I cannot wait to see how the sky turns out when we are finished! It is sure to look phenomenal! Last Thursday was my final visit to the wall during my summer internship at CITYarts. Working at the mural site and being able to actually take part in the process has been incredibley rewarding. Watching as the kids' ideas and sketches materialized--as Jamie and Adam brought their ideas to fruition has been amazing. I never thought such a such a neat, powerfully inspiring message could transform an old brick wall into a beautiful work of art. I have to admit that my first days spent at the wall were not the most exciting. We tediously scraped the old layers of paint of the wall, cleaned it, picked off shrubs, washed, and then later primed the wall. But once Jamie and Adam opened up the cans of paint, laid out the initial sketch, and gave us the go ahead, the energy and enthusiasm started flowing! Being able to apply bright brush strokes on the wall while surrounded by other enthusiastic volunteers made each day spent at the wall so enjoyable. It was always surprising at the end of each day, to climb down the scaffolding and walk 20 yards back from the wall to take it all in. The progress being made and the sense of teamwork that went into each part of the mural was admirable. Just by painting your individual section on your story of the scaffolding allowed you to contribute to the greater whole. Participating in this mural project proved to be a great experience!

Please keep checking back on the blog for updates about this exciting project!
Sally, CITYarts intern

Painting the Sea

June 18^th 2007

Baruch Place

Last week the first strokes of color paint were laid down on the wall in Baruch Place! And now things are really starting to move along. Painting an underwater scene, James and Adam chose a dark and stormy blue for the lower portion of the wall and a lighter shade of blue for the surface water. The vibrant color brought life to the wall and renewed vigor to the volunteers, who diligently worked through the eight or so gallons of colored paint in one day. Sea creatures drawn by volunteers began to populate the underwater scene. Octopuses, sea otters, jellyfish and sea turtles were whimsical additions. James motioned further additions of submarines and killer whales still to come. Seeing the animals that kids had drawn in the workshop materialize on the wall was a rewarding experience.

The past week brought new volunteers but more are still needed! Contact Christine Lu at CITYarts (212.966.0377). This week we start the sky!

Keep you updated:

Francesca – CITYarts Intern

Baruch Place Mural

July 18, 2007

We finished priming the wall late last week and by Friday the bottom half of the mural had been sketched by Jamie and Adam in order for us to begin painting. We spent the day sketching some underwater creatures and plant-life while also painting the ocean dark and light blue. It seemed like an easy task that I thought would only take us an hour or two but after rolling and painting the cracks of the wall meticulously we soon learned that the type of paint we were using required some patience. It was nice to see that once we took out the colors and started painting the people of the community, including a lot of kids, started to take notice of what we were doing asking questions and many even wanted to paint. Overall by the end of the day, our deep-blue sea looked almost real! As soon as it stops raining we’ll be moving on up…

Catie – CITYarts intern

Primework

After the scaffolding was installed, CITYarts interns, Michelle, the two artists and young enthusiastic volunteers started the prime work for the mural. Before we began to sketch and paint, we needed to smooth the rugged pieces and make the surface of the wall even. So we sanded the wall and then painted it white. 3 to 4 people as a team went to the each floor and worked on each part. Some used the rollers and the others used the brushes to paint where the roller couldn’t touch. It is such a huge wall and rough, it takes long time to finish the ground work. Once we painted the whole wall, we repainted it and retouched the cracks elaborately. Because of the hot weather, we sweat a lot and got tired easily. Therefore we have to drink enough water and take a rest every hour, while working on the mural. Remember!

Yuri, a CITYarts Intern

Poetry Workshop

The June 14^th workshop, focused on poetry, was phenomenal. Michelle Kotler, the executive director of community word (www.communitywordproject.org), visited Hamilton Fish Park to help the kids develop poetry that will be added to the final mural. Michelle started the workshop by having the kids brainstorm words related to the environment. Choosing five of the listed words the kids created a single line of poetry. Using this format, Michelle then asked everyone to create a line of poetry using the word heat. At this point a few girls became discouraged, but with the help of Michelle, they were able to personify “heat”, which resulted in a beautiful line: “Heat dances to the beat of the sun”. With encouragement from Jamie, Adam and Michelle, the kids were on a roll and writing their own poetry. Many of the students had never written poetry before and were surprised by how easy and fun it was. At the end of the workshop each participant had written a plethora of single lines. Choosing their favorite the kids combined their efforts to create an epic poem. Adam and Jamie are now left to decide if they will use the whole poem or just a few selected lines for the final mural. Overall the final workshop was rewarding and inspiring, leaving the kids will a feeling of accomplishment. Even I was moved to go home and write a poem of my own.

By the end of the week the CITYarts interns and participating kids from the LES will be cleaning the wall in preparation for painting! This has been an exciting week and next week is only going to get better. Keep checking the website for updates.

Until then – stay fresh:

Francesca

Scaffolding will be installed this week!

workshop

The workshop on June 5^th revealed the kids’ at the Hamilton Fish Park new ideas and suggestions vis-à-vis the environmental issue and global warming. After showing the children pictures with the wall to be painted, the two artists, James and Adam, initiated the discussion on global warming and the environment from where it had ended at the last workshop. Thus, whether through words or drawings, the kids together with the two artists envisioned solutions to make the city more environmentally friendly and more similar to the drawings that they had previously done, depicting for instance clean and green parks. More specifically, the thought of recycling and alternative means of transportation seemed to develop as the focus of the drawings. The children seemed very aware of the environmental issues raised by global warming as they come out in their daily lives. Towards the end, the workshop shifted its focus from the theme of the environment towards that of what makes the city of New York unique. The two artists helped the children discover their favorite places and spaces in New York, some of which to be incorporated into the final picture of the subway map. At the very end, ideas on how to include the nature that surrounds the wall into the drawing were developed. Taking pictures of the workshop and seeing how the children came up with new ideas was very exciting and I am eager to take part to workshops again, and eventually, visit the wall to see the final outcome.

Anca -CITYarts Intern

One Step Closer

Hamilton Fish Park Workshop - June 7, 2007

The June 7^th workshop proved to be very productive as the kids and artists brainstormed more ideas for the final mural. Adam and Jamie began the workshop by showing the kids a picture of the mural site -- located in Baruch Park. The 80ft wall is bookended by two large leafy green trees. Jamie and Adam pitched the idea to the kids of incorporating the surrounding nature into the mural. Working from this idea the kids began to draw. The themes of global warming and environmental preservation were prevalent, with drawings of children cleaning up parks and lakes. Even alternative energy sources, such as windmills, were discussed. The kids were surprisingly knowledgeable about the environmental problems at hand and discussed the importance of “saving the earth” for future generations.

Some new great ideas were brought up by the artists and kids. The Big Apple as an image of nature and New York City was discussed and Adam tried incorporating a subway map or clock for the final image. The kids feed off these creative ideas and added them to their own images. They eliminated the subway stops and numbers and replaced them with symbols of the city. By the end of the hour and half period, both students and artists seemed to be one step closer to finding images for the final mural. Next week we will be focusing on poetry, and incorporating words into the mural. The kids were encouraged to bring in poems or to write their own. I feel that lines of poetry addressing the major themes of the mural will be a powerful addition to the image. It will be exciting to see how the kid’s drawings will be influenced by poetic text!

Until then – keep it real
Francesca

CITYarts Intern

Workshop at Hamilton Fish

The workshop led by artists Adam and James last Tuesday afternoon went really well! Kids growing up in the Lower East Side neighborhood were eager to take part in the mural project and share their creative ideas. The kids were given paper and markers and asked to draw their favorite parts of New York City and their own community. Immediately, many of the kids referenced the Lower East Side in which they live. As the kids became more and more engaged in their drawings, some drew beautiful nature scenes of rivers and parks.
The idea of global warming was brought up again (building on what was discussed in the prior workshop). The kids were asked to think about how global warming affects the city and even some of their favorite animals. Their ideas were incredibly innovative and you could just see the creative juices beginning to flow! It was interesting to watch as one girl drew a picture of a horse and explained that horses have always been her favorite animal and she would never want to see them hurt. We took lots of great photos of the kids working on their drawings during the workshop too. It is going to be very exciting to see the eventual outcome of all their individual efforts and talent!
-Sally, a CITYarts Summer Intern

Nature inspires...

James - Mural Artist

Watch the Mural progress here!

CityArts project lead by artists Adam Peachy and James Evans but envisioned by lots and lots of East Houston kids and teens!

Over the next 2 months these talented artists, inspired by the artwork of the youth and teens of the East Houston neighborhood, will be leading the creation of a 4-story Mural on Baruch Place!