have you ever been out driving and out of nowhere this building catches your
of nowhere this building catches your
of nowhere this building catches your eye and this building has this gigantic
eye and this building has this gigantic
eye and this building has this gigantic colorful painting on it if so have you
colorful painting on it if so have you
colorful painting on it if so have you ever wondered where did this come from
ever wondered where did this come from
ever wondered where did this come from you know what was the artists intentions
you know what was the artists intentions
you know what was the artists intentions what if I told you that works like this
what if I told you that works like this
what if I told you that works like this can be the results of more than just the
can be the results of more than just the
can be the results of more than just the efforts of one person but the collective
efforts of one person but the collective
efforts of one person but the collective efforts of as many as two to three
efforts of as many as two to three
efforts of as many as two to three hundred people I’ve been creating works
hundred people I’ve been creating works
hundred people I’ve been creating works of community driven public art in
of community driven public art in
of community driven public art in Philadelphia cities around the country
Philadelphia cities around the country
Philadelphia cities around the country and the world for two decades I received
and the world for two decades I received
and the world for two decades I received my bachelor’s of Fine Arts at Tyler
my bachelor’s of Fine Arts at Tyler
my bachelor’s of Fine Arts at Tyler School of Art and I made a choice to
School of Art and I made a choice to
School of Art and I made a choice to pursue mural making I found purpose in
pursue mural making I found purpose in
pursue mural making I found purpose in creating works of public art by
creating works of public art by
creating works of public art by including people rather than pursuing a
including people rather than pursuing a
including people rather than pursuing a life in the studio for years I hone my
life in the studio for years I hone my
life in the studio for years I hone my practice with mural arts Philadelphia by
practice with mural arts Philadelphia by
practice with mural arts Philadelphia by working in schools prisons shelters and
working in schools prisons shelters and
working in schools prisons shelters and rehabilitation centers and I’ve taken
rehabilitation centers and I’ve taken
rehabilitation centers and I’ve taken the lessons from working in those places
the lessons from working in those places
the lessons from working in those places and applied them to the outside world
and applied them to the outside world
and applied them to the outside world these images are much more than these
these images are much more than these
these images are much more than these final moments that you see they
final moments that you see they
final moments that you see they represent months sometimes years worth
represent months sometimes years worth
represent months sometimes years worth of hard work collaboration and
of hard work collaboration and
of hard work collaboration and engagement and these days it’s not
engagement and these days it’s not
engagement and these days it’s not uncommon to see street art festivals in
uncommon to see street art festivals in
uncommon to see street art festivals in every major city but the appeal of mural
every major city but the appeal of mural
every major city but the appeal of mural making has always been its ability to
making has always been its ability to
making has always been its ability to act as a conduit for relating powerful
act as a conduit for relating powerful
act as a conduit for relating powerful stories in a unique way in recent years
stories in a unique way in recent years
stories in a unique way in recent years I’ve conducted consultation work in
I’ve conducted consultation work in
I’ve conducted consultation work in other cities and I’m constantly fielding
other cities and I’m constantly fielding
other cities and I’m constantly fielding questions by students and other artists
questions by students and other artists
questions by students and other artists looking to demystify the process of
looking to demystify the process of
looking to demystify the process of creating public art and I tell them the
creating public art and I tell them the
creating public art and I tell them the seed of my engagement lies in
seed of my engagement lies in
seed of my engagement lies in conversations in interviews and then art
conversations in interviews and then art
conversations in interviews and then art making exercises and during my
making exercises and during my
making exercises and during my information gathering I follow a few
information gathering I follow a few
information gathering I follow a few rules for myself engage people with art
rules for myself engage people with art
rules for myself engage people with art making that’s challenging for them but
making that’s challenging for them but
making that’s challenging for them but fun and cathartic and those exercises
fun and cathartic and those exercises
fun and cathartic and those exercises that we create they also need to inform
that we create they also need to inform
that we create they also need to inform the design in some way
the design in some way
the design in some way and when I’m interviewing people be in
and when I’m interviewing people be in
and when I’m interviewing people be in tune to what they’re saying and be
tune to what they’re saying and be
tune to what they’re saying and be receptive to the overarching themes in
receptive to the overarching themes in
receptive to the overarching themes in everyone’s conversation and finally be
everyone’s conversation and finally be
everyone’s conversation and finally be without ego allow people the ability to
without ego allow people the ability to
without ego allow people the ability to evolve even my most precious concepts
evolve even my most precious concepts
evolve even my most precious concepts and ideas I was once a visiting artist
and ideas I was once a visiting artist
and ideas I was once a visiting artist on the island of Maui creating a public
on the island of Maui creating a public
on the island of Maui creating a public art project and I remember a feeling of
art project and I remember a feeling of
art project and I remember a feeling of being completely overwhelmed as an
being completely overwhelmed as an
being completely overwhelmed as an outsider artist in a culture that was
outsider artist in a culture that was
outsider artist in a culture that was rich in its own visual identity and I
rich in its own visual identity and I
rich in its own visual identity and I had no idea how I could make an impact
had no idea how I could make an impact
had no idea how I could make an impact but it became clear to me that with each
but it became clear to me that with each
but it became clear to me that with each conversation people’s positive opinions
conversation people’s positive opinions
conversation people’s positive opinions of one another were oftentimes rooted in
of one another were oftentimes rooted in
of one another were oftentimes rooted in their ability to be humble and I heard
their ability to be humble and I heard
their ability to be humble and I heard it all the time
it all the time
it all the time who are you interviewing next are you
who are you interviewing next are you
who are you interviewing next are you gonna love talking this guy he’s worked
gonna love talking this guy he’s worked
gonna love talking this guy he’s worked a lot of years on the subject and he’s
a lot of years on the subject and he’s
a lot of years on the subject and he’s humble and taught me that I needed to
humble and taught me that I needed to
humble and taught me that I needed to take a step back and I need to make sure
take a step back and I need to make sure
take a step back and I need to make sure I’m listening and give this project the
I’m listening and give this project the
I’m listening and give this project the room it needs to develop and grow
room it needs to develop and grow
room it needs to develop and grow organically people say artists live a
organically people say artists live a
organically people say artists live a life that’s in the studio they’re
life that’s in the studio they’re
life that’s in the studio they’re insular walled off I mean why does
insular walled off I mean why does
insular walled off I mean why does public art need to be inclusive why does
public art need to be inclusive why does
public art need to be inclusive why does it have to be different well at the end
it have to be different well at the end
it have to be different well at the end of the day this work exists in
of the day this work exists in
of the day this work exists in communities and the people that live in
communities and the people that live in
communities and the people that live in those communities they have a voice but
those communities they have a voice but
those communities they have a voice but they need to know that their opinion has
they need to know that their opinion has
they need to know that their opinion has value it matters the process of
value it matters the process of
value it matters the process of engagement that leads to a work of
engagement that leads to a work of
engagement that leads to a work of public art gives people a sense of
public art gives people a sense of
public art gives people a sense of ownership in the work and the gigantic
ownership in the work and the gigantic
ownership in the work and the gigantic paint days that we have these huge
paint days that we have these huge
paint days that we have these huge volunteer events that see so many people
volunteer events that see so many people
volunteer events that see so many people come and block large sections of the
come and block large sections of the
come and block large sections of the mural on cloth in just a short amount of
mural on cloth in just a short amount of
mural on cloth in just a short amount of time they give people a sense of
time they give people a sense of
time they give people a sense of accomplishment and pride both of these
accomplishment and pride both of these
accomplishment and pride both of these things are vital to a project success
things are vital to a project success
things are vital to a project success and I find that murals are far less
and I find that murals are far less
and I find that murals are far less likely to be defaced if people feel that
likely to be defaced if people feel that
likely to be defaced if people feel that they have a proprietary sense of
they have a proprietary sense of
they have a proprietary sense of ownership over it and it’s not uncommon
ownership over it and it’s not uncommon
ownership over it and it’s not uncommon to see murals or art to see communities
to see murals or art to see communities
to see murals or art to see communities gather to
gather to
gather to rally around and fight against
rally around and fight against
rally around and fight against development that might wipe out a mural
development that might wipe out a mural
development that might wipe out a mural that people see is a point of their
that people see is a point of their
that people see is a point of their identity now murals have the ability to
identity now murals have the ability to
identity now murals have the ability to relate our fillet of sole loss and and
relate our fillet of sole loss and and
relate our fillet of sole loss and and in trauma to an audience that may be
in trauma to an audience that may be
in trauma to an audience that may be unaffected I have a completely different
unaffected I have a completely different
unaffected I have a completely different point of view these work seek to promote
point of view these work seek to promote
point of view these work seek to promote empathy and understanding in a world
empathy and understanding in a world
empathy and understanding in a world that can seem more divided than ever and
that can seem more divided than ever and
that can seem more divided than ever and these effects are quantifiable the Yale
these effects are quantifiable the Yale
these effects are quantifiable the Yale School of Medicine conducted a survey
School of Medicine conducted a survey
School of Medicine conducted a survey it’s in the mural arts Philadelphia’s
it’s in the mural arts Philadelphia’s
it’s in the mural arts Philadelphia’s Porchlight program Porchlight
Porchlight program Porchlight
Porchlight program Porchlight uses art as a vehicle for individual and
uses art as a vehicle for individual and
uses art as a vehicle for individual and community healing now the study took
community healing now the study took
community healing now the study took place over two years in three different
place over two years in three different
place over two years in three different communities and what they found was
communities and what they found was
communities and what they found was residents living within a mile of a
residents living within a mile of a
residents living within a mile of a newly installed mural reported an
newly installed mural reported an
newly installed mural reported an increased sense of collective efficacy
increased sense of collective efficacy
increased sense of collective efficacy trust among neighbors perceive safety
trust among neighbors perceive safety
trust among neighbors perceive safety and the overall aesthetic quality of the
and the overall aesthetic quality of the
and the overall aesthetic quality of the buildings in their neighborhoods in a
buildings in their neighborhoods in a
buildings in their neighborhoods in a decrease in stigma towards individuals
decrease in stigma towards individuals
decrease in stigma towards individuals with behavioral health and substance
with behavioral health and substance
with behavioral health and substance abuse challenges now I’ve worked with
abuse challenges now I’ve worked with
abuse challenges now I’ve worked with Porchlight for the past two years these
Porchlight for the past two years these
Porchlight for the past two years these two murals behind me up top
two murals behind me up top
two murals behind me up top contemplation clarity and resilience and
contemplation clarity and resilience and
contemplation clarity and resilience and the bottom the only way out is through
the bottom the only way out is through
the bottom the only way out is through our two projects I conducted with during
our two projects I conducted with during
our two projects I conducted with during a two-year residency at the Kirkbride
a two-year residency at the Kirkbride
a two-year residency at the Kirkbride Center Kirkbride is an inpatient drug
Center Kirkbride is an inpatient drug
Center Kirkbride is an inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation program I
and alcohol rehabilitation program I
and alcohol rehabilitation program I worked with about 20 people one
worked with about 20 people one
worked with about 20 people one afternoon a week creating art and mural
afternoon a week creating art and mural
afternoon a week creating art and mural making exercises by the end of my
making exercises by the end of my
making exercises by the end of my engagement I reached over 250 different
engagement I reached over 250 different
engagement I reached over 250 different people and I chose to connect with each
people and I chose to connect with each
people and I chose to connect with each individual during this time of positive
individual during this time of positive
individual during this time of positive momentum in their recovery challenging
momentum in their recovery challenging
momentum in their recovery challenging them with personally rewarding art
them with personally rewarding art
them with personally rewarding art exercises in this case learning how to
exercises in this case learning how to
exercises in this case learning how to draw on paint a realistic self portrait
draw on paint a realistic self portrait
draw on paint a realistic self portrait using a grid now I found people came to
using a grid now I found people came to
using a grid now I found people came to me in the beginning with every excuse in
me in the beginning with every excuse in
me in the beginning with every excuse in the book about why they couldn’t do this
the book about why they couldn’t do this
the book about why they couldn’t do this but in the end they couldn’t believe I
but in the end they couldn’t believe I
but in the end they couldn’t believe I mean just gonna shoot a few short weeks
mean just gonna shoot a few short weeks
mean just gonna shoot a few short weeks they couldn’t believe the results I mean
they couldn’t believe the results I mean
they couldn’t believe the results I mean look at that these exercises were meant
look at that these exercises were meant
look at that these exercises were meant as a way to put our best selves forward
as a way to put our best selves forward
as a way to put our best selves forward out there into the world and we thought
out there into the world and we thought
out there into the world and we thought about how we can transform our
about how we can transform our
about how we can transform our narratives the stories of our lives
narratives the stories of our lives
narratives the stories of our lives I found this work to be so personally
I found this work to be so personally
I found this work to be so personally rewarding and it filled me with a
rewarding and it filled me with a
rewarding and it filled me with a renewed sense of purpose because each
renewed sense of purpose because each
renewed sense of purpose because each week we were witnessing transformations
week we were witnessing transformations
week we were witnessing transformations you know it wasn’t uncommon to see new
you know it wasn’t uncommon to see new
you know it wasn’t uncommon to see new people in the class in their seats
people in the class in their seats
people in the class in their seats nodding off that afternoon it was warm
nodding off that afternoon it was warm
nodding off that afternoon it was warm in there but but as the week’s
in there but but as the week’s
in there but but as the week’s progressed as people slowly wean
progressed as people slowly wean
progressed as people slowly wean themselves off a methadone regain their
themselves off a methadone regain their
themselves off a methadone regain their sobriety worked on themselves connected
sobriety worked on themselves connected
sobriety worked on themselves connected with their peers and participated in our
with their peers and participated in our
with their peers and participated in our group we were witnessing these people
group we were witnessing these people
group we were witnessing these people become themselves again when it came to
become themselves again when it came to
become themselves again when it came to the mural oh one thing I should say we
the mural oh one thing I should say we
the mural oh one thing I should say we got a great note from the center about
got a great note from the center about
got a great note from the center about two months in and our class took place
two months in and our class took place
two months in and our class took place Fridays before dinnertime and the
Fridays before dinnertime and the
Fridays before dinnertime and the counselors started to notice a
counselors started to notice a
counselors started to notice a correlation between the start of our
correlation between the start of our
correlation between the start of our program and a noticeable reduction in
program and a noticeable reduction in
program and a noticeable reduction in incident reports that were piled up on
incident reports that were piled up on
incident reports that were piled up on their desks waiting for them when they
their desks waiting for them when they
their desks waiting for them when they got back on Monday we were getting
got back on Monday we were getting
got back on Monday we were getting results now when it came to the mural
results now when it came to the mural
results now when it came to the mural the participants wanted the project to
the participants wanted the project to
the participants wanted the project to contain images that spoke to anyone
contain images that spoke to anyone
contain images that spoke to anyone struggling with addiction but at the
struggling with addiction but at the
struggling with addiction but at the same time containing messages that
same time containing messages that
same time containing messages that appeal to anybody who might be going
appeal to anybody who might be going
appeal to anybody who might be going through trauma or loss and that they
through trauma or loss and that they
through trauma or loss and that they could relate to it it was important that
could relate to it it was important that
could relate to it it was important that we show the variety of faces of people
we show the variety of faces of people
we show the variety of faces of people affected by addiction getting across the
affected by addiction getting across the
affected by addiction getting across the idea to the viewer that this is a
idea to the viewer that this is a
idea to the viewer that this is a problem that transcends age race creed
problem that transcends age race creed
problem that transcends age race creed or socioeconomic status now I find that
or socioeconomic status now I find that
or socioeconomic status now I find that the most effective murals are designed
the most effective murals are designed
the most effective murals are designed on a macro and a micro scale mural
on a macro and a micro scale mural
on a macro and a micro scale mural should have a clear visual identity and
should have a clear visual identity and
should have a clear visual identity and be recognizable from a distance but at
be recognizable from a distance but at
be recognizable from a distance but at the same time
the same time
the same time they need to contain small details that
they need to contain small details that
they need to contain small details that draw the viewer in new discoveries that
draw the viewer in new discoveries that
draw the viewer in new discoveries that warrant repeat viewings and that’s why
warrant repeat viewings and that’s why
warrant repeat viewings and that’s why in addition to quotes an artwork from
in addition to quotes an artwork from
in addition to quotes an artwork from each participant in portraits this mural
each participant in portraits this mural
each participant in portraits this mural contains nine QR codes QR codes are
contains nine QR codes QR codes are
contains nine QR codes QR codes are quick read codes that you can scan with
quick read codes that you can scan with
quick read codes that you can scan with your phone kind of like a barcode in
your phone kind of like a barcode in
your phone kind of like a barcode in this case they lead to music and spoken
this case they lead to music and spoken
this case they lead to music and spoken word narratives by the participants in
word narratives by the participants in
word narratives by the participants in our class that they composed along with
our class that they composed along with
our class that they composed along with Kirk bride’s music therapist Pam Draper
Kirk bride’s music therapist Pam Draper
Kirk bride’s music therapist Pam Draper I find the content behind the codes give
I find the content behind the codes give
I find the content behind the codes give people insight into the humanity behind
people insight into the humanity behind
people insight into the humanity behind the addiction now QR codes are an
the addiction now QR codes are an
the addiction now QR codes are an effective way to connect the viewer to
effective way to connect the viewer to
effective way to connect the viewer to the process of engagement the larger
the process of engagement the larger
the process of engagement the larger process that’s behind the scenes for me
process that’s behind the scenes for me
process that’s behind the scenes for me it solved the problem of how I can keep
it solved the problem of how I can keep
it solved the problem of how I can keep a project relevant by refreshing the
a project relevant by refreshing the
a project relevant by refreshing the content behind the codes giving people
content behind the codes giving people
content behind the codes giving people deeper insight into our process it
deeper insight into our process it
deeper insight into our process it wasn’t the first time I’ve used codes
wasn’t the first time I’ve used codes
wasn’t the first time I’ve used codes for this effect in 2012 I created a
for this effect in 2012 I created a
for this effect in 2012 I created a mural called family interrupted and it’s
mural called family interrupted and it’s
mural called family interrupted and it’s about process or the um the impact of
about process or the um the impact of
about process or the um the impact of incarceration on families initially this
incarceration on families initially this
incarceration on families initially this was a project without a home devised by
was a project without a home devised by
was a project without a home devised by myself and a group of men that has been
myself and a group of men that has been
myself and a group of men that has been that were incarcerated at SGI Graterford
that were incarcerated at SGI Graterford
that were incarcerated at SGI Graterford prison as a part of mural arts
prison as a part of mural arts
prison as a part of mural arts restorative justice program this group
restorative justice program this group
restorative justice program this group this group is made up a brilliant
this group is made up a brilliant
this group is made up a brilliant self-taught artist and I had the
self-taught artist and I had the
self-taught artist and I had the pleasure of working with these men and
pleasure of working with these men and
pleasure of working with these men and teaching them and having them teach me
teaching them and having them teach me
teaching them and having them teach me twice a week for a decade and this
twice a week for a decade and this
twice a week for a decade and this program afforded these guys the ability
program afforded these guys the ability
program afforded these guys the ability to use their talents to devise ways to
to use their talents to devise ways to
to use their talents to devise ways to give back to their communities this
give back to their communities this
give back to their communities this group of men they’re made up of mostly
group of men they’re made up of mostly
group of men they’re made up of mostly lifers some of whom have started their
lifers some of whom have started their
lifers some of whom have started their sentencing at early as 16 years of age
sentencing at early as 16 years of age
sentencing at early as 16 years of age many of whom in this photo of served 30
many of whom in this photo of served 30
many of whom in this photo of served 30 plus years of their incarceration
plus years of their incarceration
plus years of their incarceration now speaking only for myself those
now speaking only for myself those
now speaking only for myself those afternoons teaching with this group in
afternoons teaching with this group in
afternoons teaching with this group in that prison room made me forget about my
that prison room made me forget about my
that prison room made me forget about my surroundings for just those moments
surroundings for just those moments
surroundings for just those moments those afternoons we were working
those afternoons we were working
those afternoons we were working together we were artists in the studio
together we were artists in the studio
together we were artists in the studio even if that’s
even if that’s
even if that’s was a maximum-security prison when it
was a maximum-security prison when it
was a maximum-security prison when it came to the project we wanted to connect
came to the project we wanted to connect
came to the project we wanted to connect to families of the incarcerated and
to families of the incarcerated and
to families of the incarcerated and provide them a forum to have their
provide them a forum to have their
provide them a forum to have their stories heard and in addition widen our
stories heard and in addition widen our
stories heard and in addition widen our scope and go citywide and connect with
scope and go citywide and connect with
scope and go citywide and connect with people with varying degrees of
people with varying degrees of
people with varying degrees of interaction with the prison system now
interaction with the prison system now
interaction with the prison system now to do this we developed 12 mailboxes and
to do this we developed 12 mailboxes and
to do this we developed 12 mailboxes and we designed murals for them
we designed murals for them
we designed murals for them place them throughout the state where
place them throughout the state where
place them throughout the state where people were doing a lot of waiting and
people were doing a lot of waiting and
people were doing a lot of waiting and thinking about the issue prison waiting
thinking about the issue prison waiting
thinking about the issue prison waiting rooms public defender’s office
rooms public defender’s office
rooms public defender’s office Philadelphia City Hall the main branch
Philadelphia City Hall the main branch
Philadelphia City Hall the main branch of the public library in Eastern State
of the public library in Eastern State
of the public library in Eastern State Penitentiary which is now a museum each
Penitentiary which is now a museum each
Penitentiary which is now a museum each box contained a pen and a pad of paper
box contained a pen and a pad of paper
box contained a pen and a pad of paper explaining our project with written
explaining our project with written
explaining our project with written prompts encouraging people to write and
prompts encouraging people to write and
prompts encouraging people to write and we received hundreds of replies this way
we received hundreds of replies this way
we received hundreds of replies this way from people with a variety of
from people with a variety of
from people with a variety of experiences like we had hoped when I
experiences like we had hoped when I
experiences like we had hoped when I when we were in the middle of this
when we were in the middle of this
when we were in the middle of this process I often found myself wishing man
process I often found myself wishing man
process I often found myself wishing man I wish more people could be in these
I wish more people could be in these
I wish more people could be in these rooms and hear these stories from these
rooms and hear these stories from these
rooms and hear these stories from these families I wish more people could read
families I wish more people could read
families I wish more people could read these mailbox submissions you know maybe
these mailbox submissions you know maybe
these mailbox submissions you know maybe then we could effect change or challenge
then we could effect change or challenge
then we could effect change or challenge people’s preconceived notions of who an
people’s preconceived notions of who an
people’s preconceived notions of who an inmate is and who their family is and
inmate is and who their family is and
inmate is and who their family is and how they must feel hours of audio were
how they must feel hours of audio were
how they must feel hours of audio were cut up into clips and mailbox
cut up into clips and mailbox
cut up into clips and mailbox submissions were transcribed and posted
submissions were transcribed and posted
submissions were transcribed and posted on the project website
on the project website
on the project website it was then our challenge to connect
it was then our challenge to connect
it was then our challenge to connect people to this engagement and that’s why
people to this engagement and that’s why
people to this engagement and that’s why in addition to writing and stories and
in addition to writing and stories and
in addition to writing and stories and images and drawings that compose that
images and drawings that compose that
images and drawings that compose that comprise the design this mural includes
comprise the design this mural includes
comprise the design this mural includes 22 QR codes that lead people to audio
22 QR codes that lead people to audio
22 QR codes that lead people to audio and resources now installing this work
and resources now installing this work
and resources now installing this work it gives me the ability to connect with
it gives me the ability to connect with
it gives me the ability to connect with interested passers-by I live for these
interested passers-by I live for these
interested passers-by I live for these moments when people realize that inmates
moments when people realize that inmates
moments when people realize that inmates and people struggling with addiction are
and people struggling with addiction are
and people struggling with addiction are also capable of producing work that
also capable of producing work that
also capable of producing work that looks like this you know sometimes my
looks like this you know sometimes my
looks like this you know sometimes my own family would ask me why am I
own family would ask me why am I
own family would ask me why am I doing this I do this because this
doing this I do this because this
doing this I do this because this provides these people with a sense of
provides these people with a sense of
provides these people with a sense of restoration for their communities and
restoration for their communities and
restoration for their communities and for themselves when I do this I think
for themselves when I do this I think
for themselves when I do this I think about the capacity that people have to
about the capacity that people have to
about the capacity that people have to share deeply personal tragic stories in
share deeply personal tragic stories in
share deeply personal tragic stories in the spirit of helping other people who
the spirit of helping other people who
the spirit of helping other people who have been going through the same thing
have been going through the same thing
have been going through the same thing and I feel that I owe it to them to make
and I feel that I owe it to them to make
and I feel that I owe it to them to make sure that these stories continue in the
sure that these stories continue in the
sure that these stories continue in the work when I do this I think about the
work when I do this I think about the
work when I do this I think about the men and Graterford men who with
men and Graterford men who with
men and Graterford men who with absolutely nothing at their disposal
absolutely nothing at their disposal
absolutely nothing at their disposal found the power of art to be a catalyst
found the power of art to be a catalyst
found the power of art to be a catalyst for change in their life
for change in their life
for change in their life these men have received diplomas gotten
these men have received diplomas gotten
these men have received diplomas gotten college degrees they’ve written books
college degrees they’ve written books
college degrees they’ve written books they’ve connected through so many
they’ve connected through so many
they’ve connected through so many outside organizations using art and it
outside organizations using art and it
outside organizations using art and it makes me realize that I have no excuse I
makes me realize that I have no excuse I
makes me realize that I have no excuse I owe it to them to continue this work and
owe it to them to continue this work and
owe it to them to continue this work and to never be cynical or complacent but to
to never be cynical or complacent but to
to never be cynical or complacent but to find new ways to connect these stories
find new ways to connect these stories
find new ways to connect these stories to new audience members I’m encouraged
to new audience members I’m encouraged
to new audience members I’m encouraged by creating beautiful works of public
by creating beautiful works of public
by creating beautiful works of public art and in the process
art and in the process
art and in the process seeing like-minded organizations come
seeing like-minded organizations come
seeing like-minded organizations come together providing resources to people
together providing resources to people
together providing resources to people this ensures a long life for the work of
this ensures a long life for the work of
this ensures a long life for the work of art and that the impact of our work
art and that the impact of our work
art and that the impact of our work doesn’t end once the brush is put down
doesn’t end once the brush is put down
doesn’t end once the brush is put down thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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