Don't Be Afraid to Start Something
An Interview with CAW Youth Apprentice Dina Alam
CAW Youth Apprentice Dina Alam in front of one of the figures she painted on the new mural for The Crossing in East Harlem.
“I know a lot of people here were scared to start painting, because they were afraid to mess up the mural. But I think it’s okay to try new things. And it’s okay to just let yourself have fun while working. You always want to make sure that you’re doing a good job, but you can still have fun and not stress yourself out so much.”
Dina Alam is a 16-year-old rising junior at LaGuardia High School, where she majors in music. She lives in Manhattan with her cat, Juzo, and her mom and sister. She joined Creative Art Works Public Art Youth Employment program to gain new artistic skills and work experience. As a member of the Bodega Cats, she contributed to one of CAW’s largest mural projects, Connections Through Time and Space at The Crossing in East Harlem. (Read more about that project HERE.) She hopes the mural will “inspire residents of the neighborhood to grow and live their lives to the fullest.”
When we asked a group of the Bodega Cats if any of them would like to sit down for an interview, Dina was quick to volunteer, but her fellow Youth Apprentices were equally quick to give her the nod — the group consensus seemed to be that she was the obvious choice. We sat down with Dina on the last day of painting and asked her to share some of her experiences working as a summer Youth Apprentice with CAW.
Is this your first job with Creative Art Works?
This is my first formal job, and it was a very different experience from what I expected. I was really afraid that I would have to spend my summer doing paperwork in an office, so Creative Art Works really stood out to me. This was a really fun experience, because I got to do what I really love and what I'm really passionate about. I also learned leadership skills and I got to know more people.
“I was able to work on a couple of the main faces featured on the mural, like the boy catching fireflies and the boy gardening. The day I finished the cat, I took a step back, and I said, “Oh, my gosh! This is something that I actually painted myself,” and I just remember coming home to tell my mom and sister and a couple of my friends. It’s really, really cool to think it’s going to stay here forever. It was just a really cool moment.”
The day I finished the cat, I took a step back and I said, “Oh, my gosh! This is something that I actually painted myself!" It's really, really cool to think it's going to stay here forever.
Some of the Bodega Cats. From Left: Sophia Li, Mahele Tamanna, Sachin Perna, Chyna Jackson, Juliana Gomez, Dina Alam, Fati Salifu, Dayna Hernandez, Sharon Lugo, David Stanford, Daniel Robles.
Do you think this job changed you in any way? Are you a different person than you were when you started?
I feel like I'm more outspoken. I definitely used to be a lot shyer, but now I'm okay with interacting with people, and saying this is how I want things done. I'm not afraid to say what's on my mind. I also feel like I’ve become more self-aware and less self-critical of myself and my art. I put a lot of pressure on myself when it comes to making art, but now I know that it doesn't always have to be perfect, perfect. But I know that I did the best work that I could do.
Have you made any friends on the job?
I've definitely made more friends than I thought I would. Sophia, Fati, Mehele, countless other people I could name. But honestly, I'm really friendly with everyone – everybody on the team, even the Teaching Artists. I didn't expect it to be such a safe and open space. Even though there are people a lot older than me, (I'm 16 and there are people in their 20s), I still get along with them really well because everyone just has such a wonderful personality and it was such a good work environment. I'm a perfectionist, and I've met a lot of other perfectionists while I was here. Everybody on the Bodega Cats really cares about the work that they're doing, so it doesn't feel like work, which is the best kind of work for me. We also just bonded over regular teenage things, I guess, like getting lunch together or going on social media together. I didn't expect to get so close to these people. But they're really, really good friends of mine, and I'm very appreciative of them.
Are you going to feel sad when this is all over?
Working for Creative Art Works gave me such a constructive routine. It was a really good feeling to have a full day where you felt like you accomplished things. I'm definitely going to miss being part of this work environment because it was just so fun and inviting. And even though I had to wake up early, I looked forward to coming to work and meeting my friends and other people and just painting.
"I hope that everyone can relate to the story of the protagonist of the mural, starting as a happy-go-lucky child, and progressing through adult life and old age."
How do you feel about the mural now that it’s finished?
I really hope people like it. We put a lot of research and a lot of effort into planning exactly what story we wanted to incorporate into the mural. I hope that everyone can relate to the story of the protagonist of the mural, starting as a happy-go-lucky child, and progressing through adult life and old age. I think what the mural is trying to convey is that everything has its own story and progression. I really, really want people to like it, because we did it for the kids and we did it for the community.
Have you gotten any feedback from the community?
Actually, one of the residents of the building was just asking us, "Is this mural for us? What's going on?" So, we explained to him, "Yes, this is for you. This is for the community. Every morning when you wake up, you'll be able to look outside your window and see this mural that we've created for you.” He was ecstatic to see something beautiful like this being painted right outside his front door.
This Public Art Youth Employment program was made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor, and the New York State Legislature, and by the Summer Youth Employment Program of the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, and, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council, and these generous supporters: Boston Properties, Invesco, L+M, Savills, Crowell & Moring, The LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation, The Sills Family Foundation, RBC Foundation USA, and CAF Canada. Many thanks to Celtic Building Supplies, Colony Hardware, Commodore Construction, Newport Painting & Decorating, Pittsburgh Paint, Structure Tone, and Sherwin-Williams for the donated materials and painting supplies. The majority of our Youth Apprentices come to us via the Summer Youth Employment Program of the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development. Youth providers include: BronxWorks, CASES, Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services, Children’s Aid Society, Henry Street Settlement, Inwood Community Services, and Right to Dream.
