What is it?
Make a
difference.
“By the community, for the community- and we’ve painted our vision into fruition!”
The mural was designed based on input from the community; she asked Staten Islanders to vote on certain themes to implement into the design, resulting in an artful concept that captures various forms of nature.
Open ended public engagement survey results.
“[The themes being] nature-based makes sense because Staten Island is the Borough of Parks,” said Kilbane, who credited her project manager, John Exit, and the crew of volunteers who worked day and night over the course of several weeks to complete the mural. “The first theme [voted by the community], the most popular, was nautical, which makes sense because [Cargo Cafe] is right by the water; then light and hope, I guess because of the pandemic; and of course, growth, in the form of trees.”
“I am truly thankful to everyone to have been a part of this experience, without YOU, MY COMMUNITY, it would not have happened. ”
The design, according to Kilbane, is “simple and easy, yet effective.” The mural starts on the far left of Cargo Cafe as it faces Bay Street, featuring a night sky with clouds, a moon, and hand and paw prints as stars. It then flows into the nautical portion, created from patterns and geometrics, before morphing into a crashing wave. The wave gives way to the reflection of sun in the water, which gives way to what Kilbane calls the “pinnacle”: A bright, roaring sun right on the corner. Turn onto Slosson Terrace and you’ll see growth and plant life in the form of a Fibonacci spiral.
“ A special thank you to Lauren Lovallo from the Staten Island Advance for so eloquently capturing it, to my hardcore team for their diligent persistence, to Cargo Cafe for hosting it, to NYC Department of Cultural Affairs for the #CityArtistCorps grants, all the feedback and of course endless support received from the community!”
Using art as a tool to inspire social change, artists and community members will develop a visual language to design a site of public dialogue.
Large-scale mural fabrication engages its participants in teamwork that encourages social-emotional learning, and supports a restorative future. The mural will be on the exterior walls of a popular local restaurant, Cargo Cafe . The establishment’s exterior encompasses nearly 3200 square feet of wall space and is within walking distance of the Staten Island Ferry. The painting’s size and highly trafficked location guarantees reaching residents and non-natives alike. Teaching artists will guide participants through the creation process to develop a design that emphasizes unity and inclusivity. The entire project from conception to fruition will be filmed using multiple media, then shared. The documentation will incorporate video and photos of the painting process, interactions amongst participants, as well as include interviews to serve as testimonials to the project’s impact. Throughout the duration of the project we will build a following by sharing the recorded content primarily on social networks, as well as alerting news publications in hopes of expanding it into a series that spans across boroughs.
Where and when is it?
The mural will cover the exterior walls of local restaurant Cargo Cafe, located at 120 Bay St, Staten Island, NY 10301. Teaching artists will guide participants through the painting process weekends throughout October (dates to be announced).
TIMELINE FOR OCTOBER
Show up anytime, leave anytime.
***Weather Permitting***
WE CANNOT PAINT IN THE RAIN! AT ALL!
IF IT IS RAINING, ASSUME WE WILL CONTINUE THE NEXT SCHEDULED DAY.
Saturday October 9: 11am-4pm
Sunday October 10: 11am-4pm
Monday October 11: 11am-4pm
Saturday October 16: 11am-4pm
Sunday October 17: 11am-4pm
Saturday October 23: 11am-4pm
Sunday October 24: 11am-4pm
How do I get involved?
What to Wear:
COMFORTABLE CLOTHES THAT ARE OK TO GET PAINT ON
LAYER UP- in case it gets warmer or colder
SNEAKERS- we will be standing most of the time
What to Bring:
PLEASE FILL OUT CONSENT FORMS
Snacks & water provided
What to Donate:
Coordinate drop-off & pick-ups email erinkellikilbane@gmail.com
Painting Supplies- brushes, paint, drop cloths, rollers, roller heads, roller extender poles, ladders or benches
Food & Beverage- we'll take it all!
Money- to donate money use the donate button below
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Please spread the word through social media tags:
@erinkelli_k @nyculture @cargocafesi
#CargoColorConnection, #CityArtistCorps
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