This Too Shall Pass

This Too Shall Pass focuses on the dreams, wishes, and aspirations of the inmates at Rikers Island. The large mural was created in two sections by 18 incarcerated teenagers and adds color and beauty to a hallway in the jail. The class established a safe place of mutual respect, and the young artists were obligated to keep any conflicts they had separate from the project. The class began with introductory drawing and color theory lessons. In the mural, five dreaming inmates are shown in their beds. Their dreams and wishes appear in bubbles and are integrated throughout the design. Most of the pictured inmates dream of family, while others dream of simply walking down the sidewalk. During the creation of the mural, participants learned important lessons about hard work and collaboration. When the project was completed, both students and teachers were left with a vast sense of pride and accomplishment.