"Nature Adventure" transforms the playground walls of PS 176 into a wondrous nature adventure, encouraging the school children’s imaginations to flourish and expand. In creating the work, 18 young artists thought about their community, discussed their ideas, and gathered imagery. The students came up with the adventurous nature theme on their own; they knew exactly what they wanted on their playground walls. The mural team collectively transformed the school’s environment with a vibrant example of how nature and art can boost creativity. One student said, “It is my favorite place where I can go and play.” The mural depicts a landscape and a seascape, highlighting both flora and fauna. Crowning the mural is PS 176’s school motto: “Believe it! Achieve it!”

"Star Polishers" was created by two 5th grade classes and frames the entrance to PS 506 in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The students read and discussed the poem “The Star Polisher” by Leah Becks. In the poem, a teacher is a star polisher, allowing students to flourish and reach for the stars. The youth gathered imagery that reminded them of the inspirational poem. The students then created mosaics, comprised on four large panels, featuring four student silhouettes reaching for the stars and buffing them to a bright shine. This mosaic beautifies the entrance to the public school and provides positive imagery for the students to look up to.

"This is Newark (East Ward)" was part of a larger initiative in which Groundswell worked with the City of Newark to train its artists, businesses, and community organizations in our unique collaborative model. "This is Newark (East Ward)" is based on a brief history of the Ironbound neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey. Groundswell partnered with the City of Newark, City Without Walls (cWOW), and the George Ulanet Company to create this historically and culturally relevant mural. The youth researched the history of the Ironbound neighborhood, interviewed each other, and compared family histories. The neighborhood was named Ironbound because of the many train tracks and metal smelting factories it houses. In the mural, vignettes showing the history of immigration, labor, and daily life of the Ironbound illustrate the influence of Portuguese and other national cultures. The composition of the mural begins with a train bringing the immigrants to their new home, followed by a chronology of various images of labor workers, ending with the contemporary workers at the George Ulanet Company. The various species of birds throughout the mural represent the diversity in the neighborhood.

"This is Newark (Central Ward)" was part of a larger initiative in which Groundswell worked with the City of Newark to train its artists, businesses, and community organizations in our unique collaborative model. This colorful mural was installed in the center of Newark, New Jersey. The youth executed the final design based on discussions of the city’s complexity, diversity, and elaborate history. A colorful mosaic was developed comprised of treasured historical sites and prominent figures from Newark. Some historic landmarks featured in the mural are The Newark Public Library and Sacred Heart Cathedral. Prominent figures from New Jersey are also featured, including poet Amiri Baraka, poet Allen Ginsberg, jazz singer Sarah Vaughan, American librarian and founder of Newark Museum John Cotton Dana, and educator Russell Aldo Murray. Newark is comprised of many upstanding citizens, and it is seen as their duty to spread their knowledge in order to create a more vibrant city. Also incorporated into the design are depictions inspired by the expression “each one teach one,” which encourages reciprocal education through teaching and learning from one another. As a whole, the mural evokes the spirit and color of this radiant city.

"This is Newark (South Ward)" was part of a larger initiative in which Groundswell worked with the City of Newark to train its artists, businesses, and community organizations in our unique collaborative model. Groundswell volunteers, led by artists Kevin Sampson and Edwin Vasquez, partnered with City Without Walls (cWOW), The City of Newark, The Centre, and the Donald Tucker Center to create this inspiring mural. The mural illustrates the importance of a clean environment and our shared responsibility to prevent potentially hazardous situations. This piece memorializes Donald Tucker, showcasing a portrait of Mr. Tucker outlined against a Newark school in the distant background. Children hold hands in a circle to symbolize the diverse Center and its activities. Crowning this mural are the words “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child.”  The vibrant colors of the mural help to brighten up a dark and dreary wall in the neighborhood.

"This is Newark (North Ward)" was created by four teenagers ranging from 17 to 18 years old as part of a larger initiative in which Groundswell worked with the City of Newark to train its artists, businesses, and community organizations in our unique collaborative model. Groundswell partnered with La Casa de Don Pedro to create this inspiring mural located in Newark, New Jersey. The students were tasked to create a mural that represents the diversity and uniqueness of Newark. The hands represent the multicultural residents, who hold the soil that blossoms into the cityscape and then morphs into a cherry blossom tree. The mural team chose this imagery to reveal the importance of nurturing the environment in which you live and the importance of nature in “The Garden State.”

"This is Newark (West Ward)" was part of a larger initiative in which Groundswell worked with the City of Newark to train its artists, businesses, and community organizations in our unique collaborative model. This mural was created by four youth in partnership with volunteers from the Urban League and City Without Limits. The youth were tasked to create a mural that was relevant to both the city of Newark and the butterfly garden located across the street. Using the quote by Maya Angelou that states, “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty” as inspiration, the mural team designed and executed a mural featuring butterflies, flowers, and silhouettes of people of all different ages. The butterfly is used as a metaphor for the potential of the neighborhood and community to transform itself and improve its environment.

"Yes She Can!" is a mural that celebrates the relationship between the Bronx community and its environment. This mural proudly and boldly displays the words, “You do not have to move out of your neighborhood to live in a better one.” This mural portrays two strong women towering over neighborhood buildings while bringing nature and light into their community, emphasizing female strength and leadership. This is a powerful message not only for the women of Hunts Point, but for the entire South Bronx community. One of the women displayed in this mural is planting an avocado seed, a plant that is notoriously difficult to sprout; it requires the same patience, consistency, and love required to help a community to blossom.

"Longevity" graces the walls of the Lutheran Medical Center Chinese Services Wing, which opened in 2004. Students from Sunset Park High School painted this mural with the hope of making patients feel more comfortable and at home. Students learned about the most symbolic bird in Chinese history, the crane. This majestic bird represents a lasting spirit, great health, and happiness in Chinese culture and is a symbol of longevity and auspiciousness due to its long life span. Also featured in this mural are bamboo shoots, which are incorporated to symbolize durability, strength, and resilience. Bamboo can withstand the harshest of weather and continues to grow all year round, despite the season. Specific to Chinese culture, this painting represents all that is healthful, gives hope to those feeling hopeless, and brightens up what could be seen as dreary hospital walls.

"Woman Rise" is a mural that exemplifies women’s struggles and the paths taken to rise above those issues. The mural was created in partnership with the Bowery Residents’ Committee (BRC), a transitional housing residence for homeless women. The Voices Her’d mural team chose to create a universal image that recognized struggle, hope, and solidarity as essential themes relating to all women. The young artists’ research was extensive, combining statistical information and meetings with public officials and social justice organizations, with personal interviews and anecdotes from the women of the Bowery Residents’ Committee. They also looked closely at art that addresses complex social structures, including art from ancient Egypt. After getting to know some of the resident women, the mural team gained new awareness about homelessness in New York City. It is the hope that women will be able to identify with the imagery of transformation in the mural and relate it to their own personal experiences.