Rays of Change / Rays of Hope
“Not only are the litigants coming into that courtroom going to be uplifted by this art, but also the court personnel that work there regularly. Court officers, interpreters, court assistants and clerks, attorneys, and jurists all deserve to take in these images of caring, peace, pride of place, and of rest and recreation; all the possibilities in life for those who can be open to them.”
Sunrise and Sunset
Beautifying the walls of Bronx County Family Court’s intake room is a visual feast for the senses. The youth-created murals “Rays of Change / Rays of Hope,” greet visitors with a powerful message of resilience. Creative Art Works Youth Apprentices (YAs) painted works of art at three New York Family Courts this summer, and in each case the team was tasked with creating an uplifting work of art that is representative of the local community. For The Bronx, our YAs, under the guidance of our Teaching Artists Dani Coca and Natalie Raskin, and Teaching Artist Assistant, Becky Schuman, depicted conversations on park benches, food trucks, the Lorelei statue from the Heinrich Heine Fountain in the nearby Joyce Kilmer Park, and flowers that are indigenous to many nationalities that Bronx residents call home.
Entering the intake room, one is greeted by “Rays of Change,” the sunrise mural; upon leaving the intake room, one sees “Rays of Hope,” the sundown mural. Together, these two paintings represent both the passage of time throughout the day as well as the cycles of hope and resolution; it serves as a reminder to court staff and visitors alike that the troubles of today will eventually pass.
From our Community to Yours
Bronx County Family Court Youth Apprentices working on the early stages of Rays of Hope
Youth Apprentices Mariel and Angel working on cleaning paintbrushes and setting up the soap water
In order to conceptualize, pitch, and paint works of art that are representative of The Bronx community, the team first had to cultivate a strong community of their own to successfully work together to create something meaningful. Their collaboration extended far beyond painting; it involved a division of labor where each apprentice took on specific responsibilities essential to the murals success, such as cleaning paint brushes, readying soap water mixtures, conducting research, creating videos of the process. These distinct duties were all vital to the project's completion, reflecting the importance of teamwork and the YAs willingness to collaborate and help each other succeed. Each contribution to the final product pushed the team forward, exemplifying the themes of inclusion, unity and connection celebrated in the mural.
The Process
The Unveiling
The murals were unveiled on August 14, 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. Several representatives of NY State Family Court addressed the Youth Apprentices, including Ruth Whalen, First Deputy Chief Clerk of New York City Family Court; Bronx Family Court Judge Maura Keating; and Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives Edwina Richardson. CAW Executive Director Karen Jolicoeur also spoke to the young artist, as well as representatives from CAW’s Board of Directors, including President Brian Ricklin, Chair Andy Levin, and members Lauren Cascio and Scott Corneby. Check out our unveiling along with our finished mural, brochure, and youth-created YA video interviews:
The Murals
Read our Commemorative Brochure
Watch the YA-Produced Video Interviews
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:
Our People
Rays of Change / Rays of Hope Team
Dani Coca, Teaching Artist
Natalie Raskin, Teaching Artist
Becky Schuman, Teaching Artist Assistant
Donna Manganello, 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