Painting Hope: Shining our Light throughout Queens
Pictured above from left to right: Tiarah Shard, Emely Hernandez, Yassin Essa, Sekera Mitthell, and Zeinab Elidrissiy working hard at outlining one of the murals they are currently working on.
Murals from the Heart
In the heart of Queens, Creative Art Works is creating a set of murals intended to turn the often-stressful experience of visiting a courthouse into something more comforting and up-lifting. At Queens Family Court, our team of 14 Youth Apprentices (YAs), guided by two Teachings Artists (TAs) and one Teaching Artist-in-Training, have conceptualized and are now painting murals that use motifs, colors, and other elements to provide respite from the courthouse environment. From one interactive mural designed as a maze where you have to help animals find their way back to the zoo, to another which highlights all the peoples and cultures of Queens lifting each other out of dark times, our YAs are continuing their work and learning technical, professional, and interpersonal skills. They are also exploring the power of art to transform spaces and impact emotions.
“When people see our murals in the courthouse, I want them to feel a sense of hope. We wanted to give them a light, something to look forward to so that they know they’re going to get assistance from everyone in here. We used neon colors for that reason, to brighten everyone up.”
Creative Art Works Youth Apprentice Tiarah in front of the mural her and her colleagues are working on
From Us to You
The creation of these murals were a culmination of collaborative efforts, mixing the creative vision of the apprentices with the guidance of our talented TAs Colleen Kong-Savage and Abby Walsh. The process involved brainstorming sessions, sketching, many painting exercises, color studies, and finally pitching their mural ideas to courthouse staff and adjusting their design based on the feedback they received. As they continued creating, they were anxious to see how these murals would resonate with visitors, but as our unveiling proved, the art provided a sense of emotional support and belonging that the YAs were hoping it would.
Creative Art Works Youth Apprentice Brandon
“I hope that everyone who sees these murals feel that I am trying to give back to the community. That the people who worked on these murals are people who are just like them, trying to make every day better than the last.”
The Unveiling
The murals were unveiled on August 13, 2024 at a ceremony attended by NY State Family Court judges, lawyers, clerks, and court officers, CAW core staff members, as well as family and friends of the YAs and TAs. Brief remarks were made by Court Attorney (Referee) Lauren Lerner, Deputy Clerk of Court, Valerie Warren, Supervising Judge of Queen's Family Court Gilbert Taylor, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives Edwina Richardson, and CAW Executive Director Karen Jolicoeur.
Hon. Judge Richardson giving a speech at our Queens County Family Court Unveiling
“I’m grateful to CAW and everyone involved in CAW. So deeply grateful to you all for your vision and the young people and their artwork belong everywhere. Art belongs everywhere, including our courts. I thank you all for your wisdom, your vision, investment in the young members of our community. Young people are not just our future, young people are our present.”
Unveiling Photos:
Finished Murals
From left to right: After the Storm, Helping Hands, and Animal Express
Process
Read the Commemorative Brochure
One last photo…
The Queens Family Court Team poses for a group shot at the unveiling.
Listen to the words of our YAs in this short video
Our People
Queens Family Court Team
Colleen Kong Savage, Teaching Artist
Abby Walsh, Teaching Artist
Micaela Jimenez, Teaching Artist Assistant-in-Training
Riki Sable, Program Manager
Staff
Karen Jolicoeur, Executive Director
Ian Newton, Director of Finance and Administration
Riki Sabel, Program Manager | Teaching and Learning
Donna Manganello, Program Manager
Kevin Claiborne, Program Manager
Ivory Nunez-Medrano, Community Artmaking Initiatives Coordinator
Emilio Vides-Curnen, Operations Coordinator
Madeline De León, Program Associate
Clair Vogel, Development Manager
Scott Lucas, Marketing & Communications Manager
Jill Goldstein, Office Manager
Andrés Piedrahita, Development & Marketing Associate
Board of Directors
Brian Ricklin, President
Andrew D. Levin, Chairman
Steven Soutendijk, Treasurer
Julia Sanabria, Secretary
Lauren Cascio
Mosely Chaszar
Scott Corneby
Charmaine Davis-Murray
Gail Holcomb
Cary Levy
John Maher
Gabe Marans
Carol Rosenberg
Andrew Stern
Tiffany Theriault
Our Thanks
Creative Art Works' programming is 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. The Public Art Youth Employment Program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Additional program funders include the Find Your Light Foundation, the LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation, the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, the Office of the Manhattan Borough President, the Ponce de Leon Foundation, and the William Talbot Hillman Foundation.
We are grateful for in-kind donations, space, and expertise from these generous supporters:
