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A Vibrant New Look for our Community Center

 

The Riis Settlement community center has served as the social and cultural epicenter of the Queensbridge community for decades. The programs and services that have developed within have been largely determined by the needs and wants expressed by local residents over the years. It is fitting then that this summer, youth from the local community were invited to participate in the painting of a mural on the exterior of the building as part of Groundswell’s community mural project which brings artists, youth, and community organizations together to use art as a tool for social change for a more just and equitable world. The youth had the opportunity to use the walls to express what Queensbridge means to them. The two resulting murals have not only enhanced the aesthetic of the center but  now stand as further testament to the power of collaborative action to transform public spaces into vehicles for self-expression and social betterment.

To start the project, Groundswell artists met with the recruited youth for a number of hands-on design sessions where they gained a greater understanding of the mural painting process and brainstormed ideas for potential themes. For the front-facing wall, they chose the theme of diversity to reflect the multitudes of different cultures that make Queensbridge such a vibrant community. The mural includes colorful depictions of people raising their hands in unity and greeting newcomers, along with the words community, welcome and effort written in Bengali, Spanish, Korean, Chinese and English. The work, entitled, “A Welcoming Celebration”, was painted by lead artist Raul Ayala, assistant-artist Alexis Mena, and youth artists Jose Diaz, Kevin Perez and Jonathan Perez.

part of front mural

For the mural on the west side of the building, the topic of health was chosen to reflect the health issues faced by Queensbridge residents, past and present, such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, food access, mental wellness, and gun violence. The mural includes images that symbolize mental, spiritual, emotional and physical well-being along with the words power and libertad.  Lead artist Misha Tyutyunik and assistant artist Victor Saint-Hilaire guided the youth as they tapped into their creative side to create this meaningful work.

The Groundswell project was a truly positive experience for all involved. The youth gained valuable job skills and were inspired to realize their own power to be agents of change within their communities. Akiva, a senior in high school and one of the youth who worked on the side mural joined Groundswell because he said it was an opportunity for him to be expressive, creative and to make a social statement.  Akiva expressed the fact that “murals tackle hard problems through art” and that joining Groundswell helped him to have a greater sense of connection to the community.

To the benefit of the Queensbridge community, we now have two beautiful public works of art that represent the unique character of the neighborhood and promote the values of unity, equity and positive social change upon which the mission of Riis Settlement is built.. We are extremely thankful to Groundswell and its artists, the youth, and the New York City Council for making this project possible. We hope that all those who pause to admire the work, will be inspired to continue making Queensbridge a safe, healthy and welcoming place for all.

 

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