Twelve youth participated in the creation of the “Lutheran Mosaic,” led by artists Clare Herron and Yana Dimitrova. The students identified symbols in nature to represent the diverse communities in Brooklyn. This mosaic combines different flowers that symbolize the many cultures that exist in the Sunset Park community, including Russia (chamomile), Mexico (dahlia), El Salvador (flor de izote), Dominican Republic (flor de la caboa), Puerto Rico (hibiscus and coqui frogs), China (plum blossom), Italy (white lily), Jamaica (lignum vitae), Honduras (orchid), United States/Ecuador (red rose), Trinidad (poinsettia), and Egypt (lotus). In the center, the Groundswell logo rises up from the flowers to illustrate the definition of the word “Groundswell.” The "Lutheran Mosaic” is proudly displayed in Groundswell’s conference room, showcasing for all to see what our artists and young people can accomplish.

“Diversity is a Rich Tapestry” was created in partnership with NYC Lab Middle School for Collaborative Studies. The mural memorializes student Jabulani Summers, age 11. He is depicted reciting a Maya Angelou quote through a megaphone. “Diversity makes for a rich tapestry. All threads are equal, no matter what color.”  Silhouettes of children playing span the bottom of the image. The Lab School mascot, the Alligator, also makes an appearance. The creation of this mural deeply impacted the Summers family as well as the school and community. Adanna, Jabulani’s sister, participated in the painting and execution of the mural design. Many of her ideas shaped the mural, including the portrait of her brother holding the megaphone. At the dedication, Jabulani’s mother and grandmother gave a special thanks to both the Lab School and the classes that participated, stating that there were no words to express what this mural meant to them.

Groundswell and the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) designed the Traffic Safety Sign Residency Program to engage public school students in exploring traffic safety information through the creation of original street signs. Signs designed collaboratively by students at each of our partner schools are digitally rendered by Groundswell artists, fabricated by NYC DOT’s Sign Shop, and temporarily installed in local locations students identify as in need of traffic signage. Through this program, students learn how signs and symbols can work to communicate ideas and explore visual art techniques to develop graphic images. These signs then help increase safety awareness and prevent accidents in locations around each school community. The students frm PS 73 chose to use the image of a mother and child crossing the street to remind drivers of what is important.

“First Impression” was created in partnership with The LGBT Center and Farrow & Ball. The completed mural was installed temporarily for exhibition at Farrow & Ball and found a permanent home at The LGBT Center. “First Impression” is a large installation mural that portrays an abstract collection of faces of all genders and ethnicities in a creative and colorful way. The goal of this project was to explore issues of tolerance and equality for the LGBT community. At the time of its creation, a string of highly publicized suicides by gay teens generated a national discussion about gay kids’ experiences. The mural’s dark edges suggest we are witnessing a moment of illumination.

Dutch human rights charity Miles4Justice and the Red Hook Community Justice Center commissioned Groundswell to create a large-scale mural, entitled “Some Walls Are Invisible,” that honors the 400th anniversary of Dutch settlement in North America. The mural overlooks Valentino Park in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Fifteen young men and women researched current human rights issues to inform the design with relevant and thought-provoking images. “Some Walls Are Invisible” examines the ways that visible attributes of race and ethnicity can be invisible barriers to equality and justice. These barriers can be overcome with careful attention to our shared community and principles of human rights. The piece is comprised of two dominant images: a head that is exploding into facets and a young man holding an image of the earth with a section cut away. These images suggest that our identities and our world are comprised of powerful forces that can either drive us apart or unify us.

Groundswell and the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) designed the Traffic Safety Sign Residency Program to engage public school students in exploring traffic safety information through the creation of original street signs. Signs designed collaboratively by students at each of our partner schools are digitally rendered by Groundswell artists, fabricated by NYC DOT’s Sign Shop, and temporarily installed in local locations students identify as in need of traffic signage. Through this program, students learn how signs and symbols can work to communicate ideas and explore visual art techniques to develop graphic images. These signs then help increase safety awareness and prevent accidents in locations around each school community. Students from PS 6 identified and included imagery of distractions, such as mobile devices, that keep people from being aware of their surroundings.

Groundswell and the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) designed the Traffic Safety Sign Residency Program to engage public school students in exploring traffic safety information through the creation of original street signs. Signs designed collaboratively by students at each of our partner schools are digitally rendered by Groundswell artists, fabricated by NYC DOT’s Sign Shop, and temporarily installed in local locations students identify as in need of traffic signage. Through this program, students learn how signs and symbols can work to communicate ideas and explore visual art techniques to develop graphic images. These signs then help increase safety awareness and prevent accidents in locations around each school community. Students from PS 135Q in Queens used the iconic symbol of the hand and a child kicking a ball across a street to represent the danger and the need to "Stop, Look, and Listen."

“Transformative Moments” was developed in partnership with the Ella McQueen Residential Center, a New York State juvenile detention center in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The mural, installed in the Center’s reception room, greets residents with a message of personal and collective transformation. Figures climb a twisting staircase, assisting one another as they make their way up the steps. Keys fall from the sky, symbolizing new opportunities. A maze represents the interconnectedness of one’s psyche, life experience, and the challenges of life itself. Aphorisms inscribed throughout the mural read “Life is a circle. We are each responsible for our own actions,” and “There was never night that had no morn.”

Groundswell and the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) designed the Traffic Safety Sign Residency Program to engage public school students in exploring traffic safety information through the creation of original street signs. Signs designed collaboratively by students at each of our partner schools are digitally rendered by Groundswell artists, fabricated by NYC DOT’s Sign Shop, and temporarily installed in local locations students identify as in need of traffic signage. Through this program, students learn how signs and symbols can work to communicate ideas and explore visual art techniques to develop graphic images. These signs then help increase safety awareness and prevent accidents in locations around each school community. Students from PS 4 chose to represent a student in a wheelchair next to someone with headphones, to illustrate the need for care of all kinds of differently abled individuals.

“All Services Entail Tender Loving Care and a Listening Ear” was created by a team of youth commissioned by the Black Veterans for Social Justice (BVSJ) organization in Brooklyn. This acrylic mural illustrates African-American participation in the armed services alongside scenes of domestic life and the history of BVSJ. A letter depicted throughout the composition pays homage to the prominent historical role of African-Americans in the military mail services, as well as the importance of letters sent from home to soldiers on active duty. This colorful mural wraps around the façade of the BVSJ building, bringing color and awareness into the streets. A participant explained, “This mural represents the black veterans, their coming home, their part in the community, and the impact of their contribution. That’s something that we want to explore, because veterans do not get enough of that exposure.”