Pop Up Kid's Block Party Mural
What do you do when you are having a block party and there are temporary wooden panels hiding construction right n the middle of it? You have a pop-up mural for the kids at the Block Party of course! Thanks to my friend Alvin Pettit for giving me an opportunity to do just that in downtown Jersey City on Sept 10th, 2017.
This technique is something I do often and is a great activity to bring people together. I start by painting some basic outlines of familiar people, places and things. Then all I have to do is bring out the colored paint, step back and let the kids bring it to life. What I like about this technique is that it gives the kids an entry point that makes approaching the wall a little less intimidating. The outlines are there so anyone can jump in and start painting without the stress of worrying if they are “doing it right” or if it’s turning out well. A blank canvas can be intimidating and the point is to invite community in. It allows for anyone, including those that think they are bad at art, to participate and experiencee the benefits of the painting process. But it also has enough blank space for anyone to paint whatever comes to them and encourages the painters to collaborate on connecting their worlds. It’s a simple exercise but it brings a lot of joy and connection-especially between neighbirs who may not have known each other prior. It creates a space where folks can chat while still accomplishing somthing together and while flowing with whatever comes natural to them. It’s especially fun with kids and I never have to do more than bring out the poaint before the young ones start asking if they can paint too. Then I get to step back and watch neighbors and new friends deepen their connections, have fun together, & get in touch with their creative side, all while playing around in the painting jungle gym. And in no time at all-you have a completed pop up mini mural that the community didn’t know they were going to creat together.
Where could you set up a quick pop-up mini mural?
