While we didn’t do one of our traditional WALL\THERAPY festivals, we were still busy all year long! Check out this recap of our biggest projects. In addition to these, we also did a number of tours, talks, and outreach throughout the year.
We want to thank everyone for your support of the WALL\THERAPY project and mission and we look forward to bring our July festival back once again for 2020, featuring a roster of Women, Femme, and Non-Binary artists. We look forward to sharing more with you about this in early 2020!
January 2019 – Inspired by Nathan Lyons: Collaboration between WALL\THERAPY and the George Eastman Museum
In January 2019, WALL\THERAPY partnered with the George Eastman Museum to curate some external elements tied to their Nathan Lyons retrospective. Former WALL\THERAPY 2017 muralist Todd Stahl created one of his stellar assemblage pieces paying tribute to Nathan Lyons that was positioned just outside the exhibition, while local artists Nova, Yews, Ax, and Dellarious collaborated on an installation paying tribute to the city streets and walls that feature prominently in Lyons’ later works.
Nathan Lyons: In Pursuit of Magic
George Eastman Museum main galleries, January 25–June 9, 2019
Curated by Lisa Hostetler, Curator-in-Charge, Department of Photography and Jamie M. Allen, Associate Curator
For more about the exhibition: https://www.eastman.org/nathan-lyons-pursuit-magic
May 2019 – Moms Demand Action / Students Demand Action
Moms Demand Action reached out to WALL\THERAPY to create a mural for National Gun Violence Awareness Day/Month. Completed in May 2019, This mural created by Brittany Williams -— titled “Through Tragedy, There’s Hope” — features an non-descript everyman, is dedicated to all we’ve lost through gun violence.
The mural was dedicated on June 8, 2019 and is located at Rocky’s Pizza, 810 Genesee St. .
For more information about National Gun Violence Awareness Month:
https://everytown.org/studentsdemand/
Photo and Video by Jason Wilder
May 2019 – Renaissance Academy Charter School of the Arts
The folks at Renaissance Academy Charter School of the Arts invited 2015 WALL\THERAPY muralist Nate Hodge to work with the graduating 6th grade students during the last few weeks of their school year on a mural inside the school.
Kindergartners thru 2nd grade provided some sketches about “how creativity makes them feel” which were integrated into the final painting. 5-6th graders also helped Nate with the painting.
We look forward to this as a yearly collaboration, as local #walltherapy artists will work with students each Spring to add a new mural to the school walls.
July 2019 This is Triumphant Music
This is Triumphant Music – Mural by Sarah C. Rutherford, Justin Suarez, and Brittany Williams for WALL\THERAPY and the City of Rochester. July 2019.
WALL\THERAPY worked with the City of Rochester to bring new life and color to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park at Manhattan Square. The mural features portraits of three local, living musicians as painted by three local Rochester artists.
Moses Rockwell painted by Brittany Williams
Danielle Ponder painted by Sarah C. Rutherford
Mikaela Davis painted by Justin Suarez (aka Mr. Prvrt).
For more about the artists:
Sarah C Rutherford – https://hervoicecarries.blog
Justin Suarez – http://www.mrprvrt.com
Brittany Williams – https://www.instagram.com/bwilliamsart/
Moses Rockwell – https://mosesrockwell.bandcamp.com/
Danielle Ponder – https://daniellepondermusic.com/
Mikaela Davis – https://www.mikaeladavis.com/
This linked video was created by the folks at Captivate Media and shared with us to share with you!
August 2019 – Mural at the Skalny Childcare Center at the YMCA Schottland Family Branch
We worked with the YMCA of Greater Rochester to create a mural to inspire the children at the Skalny Childcare Center at the new YMCA Schottland Family Branch. WALL\THERAPY 2015 alum Matthew Roberts and longtime WT collaborator John Magnus Champlin worked together to create an exciting environment celebrating diversity, creativity, and the wonder of youth to inspire the next generation.
See a video about this project here:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=728668594227454
and read more about it here:
https://rochesterymca.org/community-buildings/ymca-walltherapy-collaboration/
October 2019 – Shannon Galpin
We were fortunate to round out our year to facilitate a quick visit from Shannon Galpin. Shannon is a National Geographic Adventure of the Year and a Fellow with the Explorer’s Club who has spent the past decade working as a women’s rights activist in Afghanistan and a lifetime exploring the world as a solo adventurer.
She installed two of her “Love Letters” murals – Notes from her stalker to expand the conversation of consent, love, harassment, and stalking in public places. They went up on State St at The Spirit Room and UUU Collective’s spaces.
She also installed one other temporary installation, a climate justice Love Letter to Mother Earth, near High Falls