A selection of public commissions and community engagement projects which also include educational related programming and initiatives.
“As Above So Below (Jersey Shore)” Newark Airport Terminal B
This 85′ mixed media mural mural located in Newark Airport Terminal B celebrates the diverse, vibrant people and landmarks of the Jersey Shore.
“Faces Of New Jersey” Newark Airport Terminal A
This 240′ diptych mural located in the recently redesigned Newark Airport Terminal A was made in direct collaboration with graphic design students at Eastern Christian High School in celebrating the diverse communities of New Jersey.
St James AME ZION Church Sanctuary Ceiling Mural
St. James AME Zion Church in Ithaca, NY is a historic location where Harriet Tubman at one time was a Sunday school teacher and Frederick Douglass spoke. In unifying the church’s stained glass iconography while recognizing its historic community, the Holy Spirit dove’s radiant halo is made of patterns found in the various kente cloth fabrics in the building. In referencing its connection and inclusion in the Underground Railroad, the stars feature the drinking gourd constellation which those escaping slavery looked to in navigating north. By way of providence the North Star is positioned over the tallest organ pipe. The Big Dipper on the far left and the Little Dipper on the right like the Red Sea split wide open to freedom. The dove is an African Collard comped from various images. The experience was profound and blessed with wonderful assistants, music and support.
“As Above, So Below (Past, Present, Future Forward)” Community Garden Mural
A seed holds within it the branch and the blossom. This mural located on the site of a community garden at 520 Ocean Ave in Jersey City, NJ mirrors the seed’s story through telling of a person’s past, present and aspirations. Near the bottom she’s depicted in black and white (as in an old photo) with the colors of the Pan-African flag behind her speaking to her ancestry. On the right side, in the present she wears a red, white and blue dress acknowledging her place here in America. She’s an “everyday people” version of the Statue of Liberty which can be seen from the end of the road. On the left we see her amongst the stars symbolic of her hopes, wishes and dreams… her eternal spirit. Woven throughout are the floral elements suggestive of the flourishing throughout her journey. The same growth we’d desire to see brought to the community from the garden. I’m grateful to celebrate and give back to Jersey City some of the color, uplift and energy that it has so richly blessed me with over the years. Special thanks to @averynice, @solid.nj and all the local youth who participated in its creation.
Permanent Installation in Toni Morrison Hall at Cornell University.
This project was done in collaboration with students in a program I launched to encourage youth to explore real world opportunities in the fields of art and architecture while expanding their professional network alongside 7 schools in Brooklyn, NY. The mentor/mentee theme features a portrait of Morrison and a high school student including references to Morrison’s last and first published works (Recitatif and The Bluest Eye). This initiative was done in partnership with the Toni Morrison Collective.
“Miracle Of Hope” Medical Center mural designs, Sierra Leone, West Africa
These large format paintings have been created in preparation for their placement within the full “wrap around” mural to be placed on the forthcoming medical center to be built in Sierra Leone by Miracle Of Help to serve in the medical needs of the community there while also providing educational and trades programming. The imagery includes women and children from the community.
Village At Ithaca “Knowledge Is Freedom” Mural
Championing community uplifting each other and dismantling the school to prison pipeline this mural was created while serving alongside the talented and dedicated team of @villageatithaca.
This project is made possible with Artist In Community grant funding from The Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County.
“The Village staff collaborates with the Ithaca City School District to provide academic support in a safe, student centered environment, both as community partners within the schools and/or serving as alternative instructors for K-12 students outside of regularly scheduled classroom settings. Our ethos begins in relationship so that each student’s learning needs become the means for them to reach and exceed their educational goals.”
“Sister Cities” Ferris High School Columbus Ave, Jersey City, NJ
In creating this 140′ x 30′ mural Goldman Sachs Student Art Project partnered with the Jersey City Summer Youth Mural Arts Program to support aspiring young artists with a hands-on, intensive muralist workshop centered around inspiring figures, places and cultural elements from 22 different cities around the world. Throughout the six-week project, the selected student artist received step-by-step instruction on public art techniques, concept development, surface preparation, design enlargement, paint application and presentation of outdoor art features. This initiative was co-mentored alongside Duda Penteado, Catherine Hart, Maya Sanders and Brooke Hanson.
“Three Mothers” Artyard, Frechtown, NJ
Sep 12—Dec 31, 2020: ArtYard is pleased to present Three Mothers, Jesse Wright’s monumental Portraits of Mamie Till-Mobley, Larcenia “Cissy” Floyd, and Eileen Wright. The original works will be on view in the ArtYard Project Gallery at 62A Trenton Avenue and the banner installation will be on view on the Kerr Street wall of ArtYard’s new building at 13 Front St. Three Mothers features a triptych of portraits of mothers with their infant sons: Larcenia “Cissy” Floyd and George, Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett, and the artist’s mother Eileen Wright and himself.
“Core Values” Eastern Christian High School Media Center, North Haledon, NJ
This 57′ mural is in the award winning redesigned media center of the district’s high school campus and communicates the school’s core values. This mural was developed through a cross curricular initiative where the Graphic Design course, Art Club and Advanced Art students communicated both the growth that comes from being rooted in these core values as well as the ways in which media based learning has historically changed.
“One Humanity”, Hofstra Park, Prospect Park, NJ
Prospect Park’s first public mural is located at the gateway entrance to Hoffstra Park. The imagery gives representation celebrating the many heritages found within the community. This project was designed by my graphic design class and ultimately painted in collaboration with Halls That Inspire.
“1967 Newark Riots” Jersey City Museum, Jersey City, NJ
This 16′ x 8′ mixed media artwork was commissioned by the Jersey City Museum to commemorate the 1967 riots in Newark, New Jersey. The work was later relocated temporarily to the Newark Historic Society.
Art For Hope – Gulu, Uganda Medical Center Awareness Project
Inspired by a mission trip to participate in the construction of a medical clinic in a displacement camp in Gulu, Uganda. Working with Eastern Christian High School students as an art collective called Boiler Room Bombers in a cross curricular approach in collaboration with Gensler architects to create a time-lapse art video bringing awareness to the plight and hope of displaced people in Uganda. An amazing project for an essential cause.