Five Public Housing Developments. One City Transformed.

Last month, five teams of youth artists across the city joined a movement to transform their homes and their communities through art. 

Upwards of 200 young artists will be agents of change through a new initiative, "Public Art / Public Housing." This mural series is presented by Groundswell, New York City Council Public Housing Chair Ritchie Torres, and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), in partnership with tenant associations at five NYCHA developmentsidentified from the Mayor's Action Plan (MAP) for Neighborhood Safety. Through this initiative, young adult NYCHA residents ages 16 to 24 will transform 15 vacant walls throughout public housing developments in all five boroughs. 

"Public Art / Public Housing" explores the site-specific experiences and concerns of residents living in public housing.

At Tompkins Houses in Brooklyn, for example, the team is reflecting on their development's rich history. At a presentation led by elder residents as part of the research process, Tenant Association President Leora Keith said: 

I am excited for this mural series because it will show the younger people what we can have here, the love that used to be here, and the togetherness we can achieve by working as a community. 

Meanwhile, in the Bronx, Castle Hill youth resident Brenda Rodriguez looks forward to creating a mural that will foster unity in her community:

The most inspirational moment of the process for me has been to see all our drawings come together into one design. Seeing these different ideas form one piece is the perfect example of unity.

If you are interested in joining the movement, visit us at our upcoming Community Paintings Days. Each site will host an opportunity for the community to pick up a brush and paint with these amazing youth!

Read more about this series in these Observer and Smithsonian Magazine articles.