PS/MS 183: Space to Dream

For this project, Thrive artists teamed up with students and staff from the SONYC after-school program and the Dr Richard Greene school in Far Rockaway. In the classroom, Thrive artists and students explored concepts of: self, identity, community, what they valued, and what they wished to see in their immediate communities and in the world. Students shared that if there was one thing they could change about their neighborhoods, it would be to see less violence.

The theme exploration consisted of self-portraits, neighborhood drawings, and reflections on personal strengths and passions. Students came up with imagery they wanted to see in the mural, which included: a barbershop, a see-saw, a peaceful tree, championship trophies, children in a playground, a shoe store, a grocery store, and more. One part of the mural project incorporated the school’s mascot & acronym “HUSKY,” representing: Honesty, Understanding, Self-control, Kindness, and being a leader. This portion of the mural decorates the rampway that leads up the front of the school, decorating the path for children and families to walk on. Another part of the mural was inspired by the elementary school students, who had recently read Faith Ringgold’s book- Tar Beach. Students took this imagery and created a starry sky, with children flying overhead- whether it represented younger versions of themselves or their younger siblings.

We thought of the legacies we wished to leave behind for future generations and for the school community. Students wanted to depict and convey feelings of safety, peacefulness, empowerment, and community- essentially, a space where dreams could be expressed and nurtured, which we strived to create throughout the duration of this project.