Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service captured the spirit of the projects initial phases in   this online article. This community mural was created in collaboration with artist Jeannette Martín and was completed with residents from the surrounding Muskego Way neighborhood. It is painted on the east-facing wall of El Rey foods overlooking "Butterfly Park'. Formerly a vacant lot at the busy intersection of S. 13th and W. Forest Home Ave, Juanita Valcarcel, then-Program Director of Southside Neighbors Helping Neighbors (SNHN) helped organize the initiative to restore the lot and paint the mural with support from staff and volunteer community leaders. The project was supported through Milwaukee Christian Center's Building Neighborhood Capacity Program (BNCP).  SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 Official unveiling celebration with Mayor Tom Barrett as guest speaker Left to right: Arlene, me, Mayor Tom Barrett, Juanita. I couldn't have done this without Juanita's support, fl...

PBS series 'Wisconsin Life'  segment (nominated for a Midwest Emmy!) WE ARE MANY AND WE ARE ONE Milwaukee is my hometown; Gaia is a Greek word for 'Earth', and Buddha in this example means better understanding. Milwaukee Gaia Buddha is a symbol of the collective living spirit of our city, inclusive of all. She is born from the seed planted that inspires all of our hearts to work cooperatively for the common good. 'In La'kech' is a Mayan greeting meaning 'You are my other me, I am your other you' written on her leg in English, Spanish and Arabic. A little boy holds the Milwaukee Art Museum in his lap painting his vision in sweeping rivers of blues and purples across city sidewalks. The action of the brush links us to the stars, to each other, to our collective destiny on this planet. Of course, he isn't alone - all the other children of the city join him in his desire for the chance to express their raw potential as human bein...

GRAND OPENING SUNDAY September 18th 2pm Alley behind Oriental Theatre, between N. Prospect and N. Farwell Avenues 'Meet the Artists' Friday September 16th, 8pm Colectivo Coffee 2211 N Prospect Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202 This week I've been hard at work on 'Milwaukee Gaia Buddha', an 8'x24' mural painted on brick in an alley on Milwaukee's east side. The Black Cat Alley project is an Arts Board-sponsored event hosted by the East Side Business Improvement District. The festival is already recieving media coverage on television, print and online: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel WUWM Lake effect I am loving the rare opportunity to work alongside the other artists. It's been a wonderful opportunity to share my voice. MILWAUKEE GAIA BUDDHA She is the Many and the One. We are Many and We Are One. The path represents the inner journey each of us are on, and that moves us collectively towards her. She is the blossom of the seed within ...

by Tia Richardson This article is adapted from my talk for the Tedx UW-Milwaukee Salon 'Our City Our Canvas' December 2, 2015. It shares my process of how I came to discover community art as a sense of purpose in my life. I wasn't always a community artist. It wasn't always easy for me to be outgoing with people. I was, however, always an artist in the traditional sense. I grew up drawing and painting, supported and encouraged by my parents at an early age. Being good at drawing gave me a sense of feeling valued by others, when they appreciated my work, but it only went so far. Like most people I experienced life pains of growing up. For one thing, I was very introverted and insecure. I spent three of the most creative parts of my childhood growing up in rural Janesville, WI, a predominantly white town where my dad worked as an engineer and my mom attended nursing school. Growing up as the only black girl in most of my classes didn't help my feelings of i...