The Mural Project
An on-going project for building local and international liaisons between generational and cultural orientations through public visuals. The project started with the linking of urban youth that practice “street writing” with experienced artists, community residents, and local merchants. We continue our partnership with the youth programs of Citizens for NYC, and the housing advocacy group Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES) through its association with the residents of the east end of east 2nd Street in the vicinity of Le Petit Versailles community garden. Plans include the creation of additional murals to the two murals already created. Leslie Lowe, a professional artist with a longtime integral association with Allied Productions will continue as creative directior of the project. She is joined by artist and muralist Joyce Burstein and artist Juan Betancurth as youth mentors and creators of their own mural and t-shirt projects.While the project’s core mission continues to be engaging youth and the general public in affordable housing awareness, it has expanded to encompass a broader focus on public mural-making. Among mentoring goals are the guidance of untrained youth in portfolio building, and teaching them how presentation and communication skills result in the broadening of public understanding and appreciation of graffiti style and other aspects of urban youth culture. In return youth learn how to conduct their street writing as a creative and social activity. Mural location goals include NYHA housing sites and the building at 245 east 2nd Street, where the mural by Ingo Giezendanner (AKA Grrrr) once stood. T-shirts are produced at Abc No Rio’s printshop, a long time associate of Allied Productions. Youth will learn silk screening and other art making skills. International partners include the public mural makers from Hamburg connected to us through the House Magic/Triple Threat/Last Call projects.
Link to blog posts on the mural project:
The Evolving Face of 245 E 2nd St.
“Burning Decontrol”: Ben Rothenberg’s Pro Affordable Housing Mural
Carlo Quispe and Laura Campas’ Mural “Alien Life” at 245 E 2nd St.
