“Birds of Soluna” is an extension to a previous Groundswell mosaic installed on the outer façade of BRC’s Casa de los Vecinos transitional housing residence for individuals living with mental illness. Completed through Groundswell’s Segue program, our professional artists supervised and instructed court-involved young people recruited from our TurnStyle alternative sentencing program. Residents of Casa de los Vecinos were also engaged in the tiling process. The mosaic is installed along the front of this transitional housing facility, creating an inviting and welcoming mood as one enters the building. The design features a textural transition from day to night with blue birds interspersed throughout the work, and it accentuates the architecture and moldings of the building on Pitt Street.

“Power” was created in partnership with Groundwork Inc. for the Sumner Community Center in Brooklyn. During the course of a special one-day painting event, twelve middle school youth and twelve adult mentors, alongside Groundswell artists, created a powerful new mural celebrating the power of education. The mural design incorporates elements from nature and the community to convey an overall message of strength through knowledge. “Groundwork” reminds people at the community center, which provides youth with recreational and educational activities, that knowledge is power.

In 2012, Groundswell teamed up with the New York City Department of Transportation, Majora Carter Group, and students from Hyde Leadership Charter School to create the “Hunts Point Heroes” series. The five portraits created through this partnership celebrate local community change makers, including Arthur Aviles, Majora Carter, Megan Charlop, Sister Thomas, and Gilbert Valle. Each of these individuals has worked to create opportunities and a better quality of life in Hunts Point. The decorative frames surrounding each portrait use elements and objects drawn from the subject’s life experience and work. For example, Majora Carter, an environmental activist, is framed by buildings with trees planted on top. This project was made possible thanks to a significant investment by the Rockefeller Foundation and its Cultural Innovation Fund and is the first in a series of five Hunts Point projects.

In collaboration with Goodwill Industries and the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development’s Cornerstone Program, Groundswell artists designed a mural honoring volunteerism and community for the Farragut Houses Community Center. The mural was created as part of “Be Amazing: Stand Up and Volunteer” week, a city-wide campaign hosted by The Amazing Spider-Man movie. Artists Chris Soria and Esteban Del Valle worked with dozens of volunteers to execute this mural during the day-long celebration. The artists used a comic book style for the design, layout, and typography, inspired by the original Spider-Man comics. Cast from The Amazing Spider-Man joined the celebration and lent a helping hand. Outside of the Community Center, the festivities continued with booths, food, and games.

In 2012, Groundswell partnered with Montefiore Medical Center and its Office of Community Health and Wellness’ Healing Arts Program to create five beautiful murals celebrating the theme “Visions of a Healthy Community." Groups of young people were recruited from local afterschool programs to participate in the five-week project. Along with Groundswell professional artists, these youth were charged with researching, conceptualizing, designing, and painting the murals on stretched canvas. Each completed mural was then installed in the waiting area of one of five Montefiore health centers, enhancing these spaces for thousands of patients and community members. “Moving Together Towards a Healthy Bronx” is one of these murals, created in partnership with participants from THE POINT Community Development Corporation's M.I.S.T.E.R. young men's empowerment program. For this mural, the team divided the imagery into two parts. On the left is the negative, which illustrates the young men’s concern about pollution in their community. The right depicts positive local efforts toward community revitalization. The finished mural is installed at the Center for Child Health and Resiliency at the South Bronx Center for Children and Families.

In 2012, Groundswell partnered with Montefiore Medical Center and its Office of Community Health and Wellness’ Healing Arts Program to create five beautiful murals celebrating the theme “Visions of a Healthy Community." Groups of young people were recruited from local afterschool programs to participate in the five-week project. Along with Groundswell professional artists, these youth were charged with researching, conceptualizing, designing, and painting the murals on stretched canvas. Each completed mural was then installed in the waiting area of one of five Montefiore health centers, enhancing these spaces for thousands of patients and community members. “Plant the Seeds of a Healthy Community” is one of these murals, created in partnership with Unity Neighborhood Center. The painting is divided by a protective tree of Mother Nature. On the left is pollution and two children disgusted by fast food “fry serpents.” On the right is a peaceful scene of a healthy community nurtured by a garden. The mural is installed at Montefiore's Williamsbridge Family Practice Center.

In 2012, Groundswell partnered with Montefiore Medical Center and its Office of Community Health and Wellness’ Healing Arts Program to create five beautiful murals celebrating the theme “Visions of a Healthy Community." Groups of young people were recruited from local afterschool programs to participate in the five-week project. Along with Groundswell professional artists, these youth were charged with researching, conceptualizing, designing, and painting the murals on stretched canvas. Each completed mural was then installed in the waiting area of one of five Montefiore health centers, enhancing these spaces for thousands of patients and community members. “The Bloom of a Healthy Community,” created by youth artists from the Morrisania Revitalization Corporation, is one of these murals. "The Bloom of a Healthy Community" depicts several vignettes of healthy activities supported by the branches of a massive tree. Vignettes include a man watering a community garden, children playing in safe, open spaces, and welcoming homes made of fruit. Ladders lead to each branch, while bright green leaves sprout around them. The finished mural is installed at Montefiore’s Comprehensive Health Care Center.

In 2012, Groundswell partnered with Montefiore Medical Center and its Office of Community Health and Wellness’ Healing Arts Program to create five beautiful murals celebrating the theme “Visions of a Healthy Community." Groups of young people were recruited from local afterschool programs to participate in the five-week project. Along with Groundswell professional artists, these youth were charged with researching, conceptualizing, designing, and painting the murals on stretched canvas. Each completed mural was then installed in the waiting area of one of five Montefiore health centers, enhancing these spaces for thousands of patients and community members. “Community and Collaborations for Health” is one of these murals, created in partnership with the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center at PS 8. The mural is composed of a series of collaged images. At the center is a heart, framed by arms reaching out to the rest of the canvas. One hand holds a root that transforms into a faucet and an orange tree. In the other hand is a bike frame that transforms into playground equipment. This imagery was inspired by the young people’s discussion of the importance of healthy eating, drinking, and exercise habits to fuel and sustain one’s body. The finished mural is installed at Montefiore's Family Health Center.

In 2012, Groundswell partnered with Montefiore Medical Center and its Office of Community Health and Wellness’ Healing Arts Program to create five beautiful murals celebrating the theme “Visions of a Healthy Community." Groups of young people were recruited from local afterschool programs to participate in the five-week project. Along with Groundswell professional artists, these youth were charged with researching, conceptualizing, designing, and painting the murals on stretched canvas. Each completed mural was then installed in the waiting area of one of five Montefiore health centers, enhancing these spaces for thousands of patients and community members. “Together We Build a Healthy Community” is one of these murals, created in partnership with students from Lehman High School. The imagery is composed of a father and son on the left side of the panel overlooking a scene filled with vibrant images of a healthy community. The entire panel is painted over a wash of bright colors, symbolizing positivity and optimism. The mural is installed in Montefiore's West Farms Family Practice.

In partnership with The International Culinary Center, a team of Groundswell youth artists from diverse cultural backgrounds created a beautiful new mural celebrating the home cooking traditions of their families, inspired by the artistic legacy of Master Chef Jacques Pépin. The finished work is a poignant reminder of the power of food to move us, transform us, inspire us, and bring us home. During the five-week design and fabrication process, our youth muralists, all of them low-income New York City teenagers, had the singular opportunity to engage with Master Chef Pépin and learn from his extraordinary culinary and artistic talents. The collaboration between Groundswell and The International Culinary Center exemplified both organizations’ shared commitment to expanding opportunities for talented young people.