Joel ArtistaUnity Through Art in Malmö, Sweden
Posted on October 12, 2015
In August of 2015, I visited Malmö, Sweden for the first of a series of community-based public art projects in five different countries for the #AddColourToLives initiative, which features partnerships between grass-roots youth organizations and local Park Inn hotels. The idea is to give hotel employees, from cooks to room cleaners to managers, the opportunity to get involved in their community by forming long-term relationships with youth in difficult life situations, including recently-arrived refugees, teens from marginalized communities and kids who have been taken from their families. To kick off this initiative, I was invited to organize collaborative community mural projects that would explore issues important to the youth and focus on building positive relations between the participants. In Malmö, our partner was Fryshuset, an incredible center that has programs that focus on addressing issues facing the youth: violence, gangs, extremism, unemployment, social exclusion, gender-based discrimination, and more.
Upon arriving in Malmö, I expected to see plenty of stereotypical Swedes; you know– tall, blonde, blue- eyed… So you can imagine my surprise when I instead encountered Arabs, Africans and Central Asians. Had I come to the right country? It turns out that Malmö is one of the most diverse cities in Europe thanks to Sweden’s welcoming policies towards refugees and immigrants, with 40% of the population foreign-born. In fact, not one of my youth participants at Fryshuset was of Swedish origin. It was fascinating to meet them and discuss their lives growing up in such a different culture from the ones they came from, which included Iraq, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Palestine, Brazil, Cameroon, Romania, China and more. In our introductory workshop we played games to loosen up and I facilitated arts-based activities. We discussed the issues that they wanted to address in their mural, which was to be painted on the walls of their youth center. Together, we explored topics such as confronting racism, cultivating a welcoming environment for those fleeing hardship, and creating a safe space for those of diverse backgrounds, ideologies and sexual orientations. This last topic in particular caused a bit of controversy, as the young people ranged in their attitudes toward homosexuality, with some passionate about gay rights and others openly uncomfortable with the subject, to the extent that a few threatened not to participate. But in the end they all agreed to join in, and I felt that a small battle for inclusion had been won.
Sketches and reference photos from our first workshop
The central image of the mural was a bird breaking free from a cage, which the young people felt expressed their desire for freedom and a breakdown of traditional boundaries and borders, both physical and mental. The rest of the mural was made up of the reflections of the participants on this subject, as well as imagery that they felt represented them and their communities.
Once we started painting, the teens were highly opinionated about what images would go on the wall, which I was happy to see because it meant they cared about their mural. However, I was surprised by the lack of self-confidence they had in their abilities, and many refused to paint at first! “This is what I want painted in my section; can you do it for me? If I paint it will look ugly,” they would plead. Slowly, the team and I guided the participants in the process of letting go of inhibitions and having fun with art making. In the end, many expressed shock at what they had achieved.
Most importantly to me, positive connections were made between many of the teens, adults, hotel workers and their families. It was incredible to see people of such diverse backgrounds all working together on a common goal and supporting one another. I also enjoyed speaking to the young people about their experiences. I asked one about whether political and ethnic divisions from their home countries affected them. He responded by pointing to another boy painting on the wall.
“I am Kurdish, so I hate Saddam Hussein,” he told me, in reference to the former leader of Iraq who famously gassed thousands of Kurds to death.
“He is an Iraqi Sunni and loves Saddam Hussein. But we do not discuss this, and we are best friends. We don’t let these things get in the way of our friendship. We focus on everything we have in common.”
And this, in a nutshell, is what our project is all about. At the closing ceremony, we celebrated our accomplishment with snacks, speeches, and plenty of photos. Thanks to all the youth from Fryshuset for your dedication and hard work! Thanks to everyone at Park Inn Malmö, my partner in crime Carolyn and to the filmmakers Daniel and Yuktesh who did an excellent job documenting the project! Check it out below…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SfdO0fSzko
“Ix Chel’s Dream” Collaboration with Chris Soria
Posted on July 23, 2015
- Photo by @slimjim72
This month I had the pleasure of collaborating on a mural with an artist I’ve admired for a long time, my friend Chris Soria. As our approaches have a lot in common, especially our love of layering and patterns, we chose to fully integrate our two styles into one cohesive mural instead of simply dividing the wall into two sections. The location was on Harman Street in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Our piece is the latest to be organized by Spread Art NYC, an initiative led by the Arabic calligraphy street artist and tattooist, Rocko, who has a community-oriented approach to his projects. Many of the murals in the area feature Puerto Rican icons in reference to the local culture. Chris and I spent time considering many potential themes for our mural, but ended up creating a design inspired by the story of Ix Chel, the Mayan goddess who was killed for having a relationship with the Sun God, but was then awoken from death by hundreds of dragonflies. We liked the fact that the story featured a strong female character, as most of the nearby artwork was male-dominated. We also recognized that the Latino population in Bushwick are from many nations, not just Puerto Rico. As various Mayan peoples dominate southern Mexico and much of Central America, it is fitting to have a mural inspired by a Mayan story. As we painted, we were welcomed by the residents, who even brought us cold drinks and sweets. Thanks to everyone on Harman Street and to Spread Art NYC!
Holy Cow! New Mural in Staten Island
Posted on July 15, 2015
When Maria, the owner of Fab Cup Coffee Shop in Staten Island, commissioned me to paint a mural on the large outdoor wall of her establishment, her only request was that it should feature cows. Maria is from Russia, where the rural Siberian scenery she was immersed in growing up always included cattle, leading to a life-long fascination with these animals that give her nostalgia for her homeland. She and her Cuban-Brooklynite husband, Juan, ended up settling in Staten Island, where they have a new baby and a new business: Fab Cup! All that was missing was some artwork for that big blank wall facing a major commercial corridor.
I admit that at first I wondered to myself, what’s so special about cows that will provide me inspiration for an entire mural? But after a little research, I realized that these are truly significant animals to human history and cultures around the world. From the famous holy cows of India to the Mother of the Sun in ancient Egypt- portrayed as a cow- humans have always found inspiration in these creatures. Due to their milk-producing nature and vital role in farming, many peoples consider cows to be symbols of fertility, Mother Earth, and renewal. I found many interesting photos of cattle to use as references, from the milk cows we are accustomed to seeing in rural America to the long-horned (and very hairy) highland cattle of Scotland; and of course I had to include the cow’s male counterpart, the bull, an animal similarly steeped in symbolism. Thanks to Maria, Juan and the whole Fab Cup crew for the warm hospitality (and excellent coffee and sandwiches) during my four days of painting!
Artistic Noise: Art with Youth in the Justice System
Posted on July 15, 2015
An explosion of creativity in our workshop!
This year, I have been leading arts-based workshops with youth involved in the justice system. Through the organization Artistic Noise, I worked with teens in Brooklyn and Harlem who have recently been in trouble with the law, engaging them in creative activities and the life experience of creating art to be exhibited publicly. Together we had discussions and presentations, went on field trips, made stencils and collages, explored abstract expressionism, painted a mural, made custom T-shirts and learned painting and aerosol techniques. For one project in Brooklyn, the students created self portraits on canvas in which they spray painted their stencils over their own abstract backgrounds. In a second project, we had discussions about what positive achievement each of them would like to one day be known for. This was a question many had not previously considered, assuming that they could only be in the media for negative actions. They glued newspaper collages onto canvas, spray painted their own images on top and then created headlines that they dreamed they would one day see: achievements in the fields of medicine, sports, science and entertainment.
In one workshop in Harlem, the participants came up with a concept for a collaborative mural: the face of a young man would be full of thoughts, with one side featuring people’s negative judgements of them that they struggle against, and the other side including positive statements of self-affirmation that they wished others could know about them. We discussed the racism and stereotypes that these youth face on a daily basis, which they said leads them to feel that society views them as being criminals, drug addicts, uneducated, lazy and uncaring. They expressed that they wanted people to know who they truly are; young men and women with a strong desire to be positive members of their communities and succeed in their educational and career pursuits. We spent weeks working on the mural together, putting all these ideas into it.
A stencil piece by the student who is now facing a murder charge.
Of course, things didn’t always go smoothly, as there are challenges working with this population. The worst moment came when one participant, who had been doing quite well and was seemingly headed in a positive direction, was arrested for murder. He was well- liked by the group, who were understandably upset by the news. He is still in Rikers awaiting trial. However, the rewards of this work far outweigh the difficulties, as I believe it is this population that most needs positive adults in their lives and creative activities to direct their energies toward. I enjoyed working in partnership with two licensed art therapists, who made sure that each workshop included therapeutic elements. It is amazing to see kids open up about their lives while making art in a way that they may not have been comfortable doing in a traditional therapist’s office. One 17-year old boy disclosed that he was stressed because he his girlfriend was pregnant, exactly the situation I had found myself in at his age. I was glad to be able to share my story with him and let him know that while being a parent is especially challenging at that age, it can also be an amazing experience and one that does not need to disrupt one’s life dreams.
After four months, we headed to the annual Artistic Noise exhibition in Harlem, in which works of art by dozens of court-involved young people were displayed for the public to experience. My participants were blown away; there on the walls were their creative expressions, exhibited professionally with a crowd of people from all walks of life admiring them! Many of the pieces were sold, to the delight of the young artists. What an experience for a teenager to have! Even better, some of the organization’s most dedicated participants had paid jobs in which they curated the show and created artwork, learning many skills along the way.
I am currently planning future arts-based projects with youth and adults in the court system, including those who are currently incarcerated, as I believe our justice system is broken and fundamentally unjust. Through the arts and advocacy, these issues must be brought to the light and humanized in order for us to have a long-overdue societal dialogue.
Palestinian- Israeli Art & Dialogue
Posted on June 7, 2015
I recently got back from the ancient land of Israel/ Palestine, where diverse peoples claim the same tiny slice of our planet and have been unable to resolve their conflict to this day. While politicians fail to find solutions year after year, ordinary Jews and Arabs generally live separate lives and fear one another, even when they live close together. While some believe these two groups cannot coexist peacefully, a brief glance at history shows otherwise. Jews were an integral part of Muslim societies across the Middle East and Northern Africa for centuries, and for most of that time the two lived in peace as neighbors; much more so, in fact, than either group experienced with Christian Europeans. Over half of the Jews in Israel today are descendants of these communities and it was sometimes impossible for me to distinguish between them and Arabs, as they share both physical characteristics and cultural heritage. While the current political climate does not bode well for a resolution of the conflict in the near future, many ordinary people are organizing grassroots initiatives to end the cycle of violence, hate and fear.
Taking inspiration from such initiatives, I partnered with fellow US-based artist and educator Max Frieder and his Artolution initiative to facilitate a series of community-based mural projects with Arab and Jewish young people, many of whom had few opportunities to interact. With support from the US embassy and consulate, we visited communities across Israel and the West Bank to meet people and learn about this fascinating but complex region. We collaborated with local organizations and schools to lead workshops with youth in which we would explore issues important to their lives and the value of bringing together diverse peoples. The students were introduced to the murals of other young people around the world who had participated in similar projects, which was an inspiration to them. Excited, they came up with dozens of ideas for their own mural. As a collective group of Jews and Arabs, they worked together to organize all their ideas into one cohesive mural design, and then painted it as a team.
One of the groups came up with the image of a boat floating on a sea. Out of the boat grew a tree with branches that became human figures. They wanted to send a message that despite their differences they all had the same roots, and that they were all on the same boat together. Another mural in Jerusalem told a story of the journey from disunity and conflict to peaceful coexistence, reflecting their desire to make this journey a reality in their region. While these values may sound obvious to outsiders, it is highly controversial in the Middle East. The school where we worked in Jerusalem, Hand in Hand, is the rare example of an institution where both Arabs and Jews study together. It recently suffered a vicious arson attack carried out by Jewish extremists, illustrating how intensely some elements in society oppose coexistence. The mural we created there was then installed on the outside area of the US Consulate, where people of all backgrounds must wait together in long lines together when applying for visas.
As we worked together, I was struck more by what united our two groups than what separated them. They were both teenagers after all, laughing nervously when around the opposite sex, singing along to the same pop songs and, at the end of one day of painting, they all broke out into a spontaneous dance party, with everyone dancing together to songs in Arabic and Hebrew. Of course, at the end of the project they would each return to their communities and things would not be so simple. After all, it is not easy to forgive when loved ones have been killed by members of the other side or a family’s ancestral home has been taken. But we hope that through many projects that bring the two communities together, there will slowly be an opening up, an understanding of the other’s perspective even if there is not agreement. I felt hopeful listening to many of our students’ words after these interactions; they noted that they had always been taught to fear the other, but that now they had made new friends and had a new perspective. Our goal going forward is to train local Israeli and Palestinian artists and educators to continue these public arts-based projects in order to bring new generations of youth together for dialogue, cooperation and friendship.
Brooklyn is the Future
Posted on June 6, 2015
I recently had the opportunity to paint two murals for Brooklyn is the Future events; one in Bushwick and the second, called “Writing on the Walls,” in Brownsville. Thanks to both of these communities who made me feel welcome; curator and artist (and Brownsville native) N Carlos J for inviting me; the event sponsors, Brooklyn Arts Council and Liquitex Paints; and to my partner in crime, CJ Thomas aka Karlinha das Pinturas!
Exhibition at the United Nations Headquarters!
Posted on April 22, 2015
I was honored have photography that I took of my arts-based community work with Syrian youth exhibited at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. I have traveled to Jordan three times with the organization aptART to work in refugee camps and host communities. Partner organizations for these projects were ACTED, Mercy Corps and UNICEF. Thanks to the Jordanian mission at the UN for including my work in the exhibition and for inviting me to the opening reception, where I had the opportunity to meet the ambassadors of Jordan, Venezuela and the US and discuss my work with them.
The Warriors! East Harlem youth mural project
Posted on April 22, 2015
I spent an incredible two weeks at Innovation High School in East Harlem for their intensive enrichment program. I worked with students and staff to create a mural in the school that featured warriors from a variety of cultures around the world, both male and female, in reference to the school’s mascot. We studied public art, went on field trips to see murals and museums all around NYC, created stencils, made T shirts, and visited legendary graffiti artist Angel Ortiz (LA2) in his studio. Thanks to everyone who participated and to the school for inviting me!
A chilly reception in Jordan: Syrian Refugee Project part 3
Posted on February 20, 2015
Syrian and Jordanian youth participants
Upon arriving in Jordan, I was anxious to get started on my third series of projects with Syrian refugees in the past year and a half. But the weather had other plans for me; the night of my arrival, the region was engulfed in a rare snowstorm and I spent days waiting for the country to thaw. While it seemed impossible for me to escape the cold—buildings in Jordan are generally made of cinder blocks that have no insulation and no heating beyond space heaters that don’t seem to fill a room, making it so cold that I could see my breath in my bedroom—I couldn’t help but think of the millions of people displaced by conflict around the Middle East, living in refugee camps and temporary settlements that I imagine are colder and much more desperate than regular housing in the capital.
Child participating in the mural project. Photo by Samantha Robison.
Finally the weather subsided and I once again joined forces with AptART (Awareness and Prevention Through Art), Mercy Corps and UNICEF to facilitate two more mural projects with Syrian refugee youth. The first took us a school in the Bedouin community of Za’atari Village, right next to the refugee camp of the same name that I worked in during my last two visits. The project aimed to bring together local Jordanian kids and their recently-arrived Syrian peers to participate in workshops and create a giant mural together. There has been tension and animosity in the school between these two groups, which is a reflection of the situation in host communities across the region that have all experienced massive waves of refugees fleeing the Syrian Civil War, putting intense strains on local resources, social services, employment and housing. The kids and teenagers discussed the importance of unity and cooperation between the two populations in their village, and expressed their ideas through writing and paintings on the wall.
A Syrian teenager expresses her dreams in the water of this mural in Azraq refugee camp.
For our second project, we headed to the Azraq refugee camp, where we painted a mural in an “Adolescent Friendly Space” run by Mercy Corps. We organized workshops with teenage boys and girls in which they explored their lives in Syria, how their goals and outlook on the future has changed due to their displacement, and what they dream of for their lives and for their families and nation. The mural features a boy fishing off of his camel, with the words “One day I will catch my dream” behind him. His fishing line goes into a pond on the cement floor of the space, where each participant painted their own fish filled with images and words that reflected their hopes for the future.
While this visit was much shorter than my time here last year, I once again learned a great deal from our community partners and the kids, whose resilience and upbeat spirit in the face of such unspeakable violence and pain always surprises and moves me. I hope to continue to have the opportunity to come to this region, improve on my Arabic and build more bridges with the Syrian people who, despite having suffered greatly, still have so much to offer and will need all the solidarity they can get as they strive to rebuild their lives and communities.
Here are some highlights from my 2013 and 2014 projects in Za’atari Syrian Refugee Camp (partners: aptART, ACTED, UNICEF, Mercy Corps, ECHO):
Emma
Posted on December 8, 2014
I was saddened to hear the news that Emma, one of the Project Jericho students who participated in our summer mural arts project, took her own life a few days ago. She was only 14 years old. Emma was the “umbrella girl” in the mural, and the fact that she was chosen to be the model to represent young people who overcome great challenges speaks to her standing among her peers and staff members at Project Jericho, an arts-based youth organization in Springfield, Ohio. Though she had stopped regularly attending in recent months, Emma had been heavily involved in a variety of activities at the center, including dance, music, painting and poetry. She was a spirited and immensely talented girl. These programs and the people she met there provided a bright spot in a life that was evidently filled with pain to an extent that none of us can imagine, and that no one realized until it was too late. Tragedies like this remind me of the importance of reaching out to young people– especially those with difficult home lives and those from marginalized communities– and providing positive activities for them to become involved in, such as the arts, education and sports programs.
My thoughts are with Emma’s friends, family and Project Jericho staff members who were moved by her warmth and bright spirit during her all-too-brief lifetime.
Emma working with me on her section of the mural
Springfield, Ohio 2014: “Upward Through the Storm” mural art and poetry project with court-involved young people. Collaboration with Project Jericho.
Felipe’s Story pt. 3 at DC’s BloomBars
Posted on December 6, 2014
Joel, Felipe and his cousin Julia in 2009
I recently painted the third version of “Felipe’s Story,” the mural that has been on the side of the Washington, DC arts and performance center BloomBars since 2009. That year, I spent time living and working in the slum community (favela) City of God (Cidade de Deus) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which was made infamous from a film of the same name. My host family included an 11 year old boy named Felipe, who I quickly became close with, in part because he was in desperate need of father figures in his life after his dad was killed and he was being raised by his grandmother in an all-female household. I was struck by the extreme situation that this good-natured, playful child was in; his grandmother expressed her worry to me and explained how many kids in the neighborhood, including several of her own children, got sucked into the crime and drug underworld which so often led to death, prison, or addiction. She prayed that Felipe would follow the path of education and a positive life. I realized that this was the story of thousands of kids in Brazil and millions across the world, and when I returned to DC, where I was living at the time, I approached the founder of BloomBars, John Chambers, about turning this concept into a mural with Felipe as the main character.
Joel has been visiting Brazil since 2005 to organize social arts initiatives with favela and street youth, participate in urban arts festivals and spend time with friends in communities in Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, São Paulo and Brasilia.
In the five years since then, my artistic style has changed dramatically and I have had the opportunity to organize arts-based social projects with youth in marginalized communities around the world in collaboration with local organizations. My work has taken me to a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan, an indigenous village in Mexico, a shantytown in Nairobi, Kenya, and many more. All of this has influenced me as a person and an artist, and I am grateful to be able to continuously update the mural at BloomBars with new experiments and ideas. I have also repeatedly returned to my work in Brazil, where I have watched Felipe grow into a young man. Unfortunately, many of his grandmother’s fears have begun to come true. He was locked up last year for robbery and his cousin reported seeing him at a party with a gun. One evening I ran into him as he was on the corner with red-eyed drug traffickers with whom he now associates, an awkward encounter for both of us. Still, all is not lost. Felipe’s family and his girlfriend are positive forces in his life and are attempting to influence him to take a more positive and healthy path. This is a choice only he can make.
Joel, Felipe and his friend in 2013
This new version of “Felipe’s Story” features a 17-year-old Felipe in the same pose as the past murals. There are two creatures struggling over him; one a demon and the other a winged bird-man who wants to guide Felipe in the right direction. As they battle to influence him, Felipe stands still, trying to figure out which way to go and what to do with his life. The artwork includes aerosol art, mosaic, a circular pattern that I saw on a sidewalk in Jordan,and creatures that I invented but which are influenced by many ancient mythological traditions. Thanks to BloomBars for giving me the opportunity to share my art and the ongoing saga of Felipe as it unfolds.
Cidade de Deus (City of God) community in Rio de Janeiro, where Felipe and his family live. Joel has led many community art projects with local youth through the community organization ASVI and the support of the Paróquia Cristo Rei.
London & Vienna
Posted on September 24, 2014
In August, I spent 4 days at the Greenbelt Festival outside of London, which focuses on progressive social causes, music and art. I worked with a group of volunteers to create an interactive mural on a long wall in the entrance of the event, and we welcomed festival- goers to participate in the creation of the piece by adding their poems, drawings and messages on the colored geometric shapes. The theme was the environment; participants were asked to reflect on what we— as individuals and as communities— can do to begin the healing process and reverse the damage done to our natural environment. The wall quickly got filled up as enthusiastic people of all ages and from a variety of countries and ethnicities got inspired to add their voice to the wall. Everyone seemed passionate about at least one aspect of this issue, whether it be the pollution of our water and air, the dramatic effects of climate change, the shocking rate of animal species becoming extinct, the cutting down of rain forests or many others. It was amazing to see small children painting with their parents and elderly people participating alongside teenagers, everyone excited to be part of the creation process of a giant work of art. Thanks to all the volunteers, participants and the organizers of Greenbelt for welcoming me and supporting the mural project!
After the festival, I got to work on a new series of pieces on canvas in London. I also headed out to Vienna, Austria, where I was invited to the Levin Jam urban arts festival. Thanks to the Levin Statzer Foundation and my friend Isabella Schrammel for hosting me!
Project Jericho: Peace-building with court-involved teens
Posted on July 14, 2014
Project Jericho, an organization that uses the arts to engage court-involved young people in central Ohio, invited me to facilitate the creation of a giant mural that featured the participation of 75 students, including teens recently released from juvenile detention, current inmates, those on probation and also children who are involved in the YMCA, where the mural was painted. The participants used poetry and painting to reflect on violence in their community and the importance of the youth taking a leadership role in the struggle to cultivate a peaceful and positive environment. This project was the culmination of months of workshops in which the Project Jericho teens participated in activities such as dance, drawing, theatre, music and performed at a public event.
Refugee Camp Art: the Za’atari Project 2014
Posted on June 25, 2014
On a blazingly bright Tuesday morning in Za’atari Syrian Refugee Camp, I met with my team of fellow artists and educators to plan for our day of workshops and mural painting with children. My friend Hamed, a Syrian who works as a hygiene promoter in the camp, told me of his pain to learn that a close friend of his had been killed fighting the government. He showed me pictures of a young, handsome man who had studied chemistry with Hamed at university, earning his masters degree and embarking on a promising career, only to become caught up in the brutality and tragedy of war. Later that morning as we were painting with the kids, one of our most dedicated young artists, a 12-year-old boy named Eyud, pulled back his long sleeves to reveal horrible disfiguring burns on his arms and leg. He told us how agents of the Assad regime, angry that his father had defected from the army to join the rebels, had electrocuted him, scarring him physically and emotionally for life. Looking at this quiet boy with a sweet demeanor, it was impossible for me to wrap my mind around the evil of this act and understand how thousands of such tragedies could be happening right in front of the world’s eyes every day. 
As millions of Syrians have fled to neighboring countries, they have been greeted by international humanitarian organizations that provide food, shelter, medical care and other basic services. But what about education, jobs, activities for youth, poverty and mental health issues? There are many complex questions that do not have easy answers; many problems that do not have simple solutions no matter how much aid money is thrown at the crisis. With the goal of improving the lives of children in the enormous Za’atari refugee camp in northern Jordan, I recently collaborated for the second time with the organization AptART and local artists and educators on a community-based Street Art and education project supported by ACTED, UNICEF and ECHO. Together, we led workshops with kids in which they learned about water conservation, hygiene issues in the camp, artistic techniques and conflict resolution. Through discussions and art, they explored social issues, their longing to return to Syria, their dreams for the future, and their plight as refugees. Dozens of children had the opportunity to participate and add their own creativity to murals that we created throughout the camp, adding color and life to the desolate environment and spreading messages of hope to camp residents. 
For me, one of the biggest benefits that this project has had has been involving local artists who can then continue the work once outsiders like myself have left. One such artist is Yusra Ali, a Palestinian woman who lives in Mufraq, the town right outside the camp. With her upbeat personality and a talent for mixing her love of art with working with children, she has had a huge impact on all of us and has already begun leading arts and education workshops outside of the project. Another star was Ali Kiwan, a soft-spoken Syrian artist and resident of Za’atari who specializes in classic Arabesque patterns. I had a great time learning from him and we collaborated on many murals, combining the traditional patterns with aerosol painting and children’s art.
This project aims to give voice to refugee children who are often forgotten about in the barrage of horrific news stories about the war. It intends to connect these kids to positive role models and involve them in educational and creative activities, thereby playing a role in the rebuilding of their communities. For many, this is the only organized educational program they’re involved in. The art itself features positive messages and uplifting imagery, a breath of fresh air in an otherwise colorless landscape. We are all looking forward to future collaborations with youth, local artists and educators around the region. There are currently plans to bring similar AptART projects to the Syrian refugee populations in communities across Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Iraqi Kurdistan later this year and beyond.
Street Child World Cup! Football & Art for Change
Posted on April 26, 2014
The players gather on the pitch in front of the completed mural. Photo courtesy by Street Child World Cup.
The Street Child World Cup is, in my opinion, a pretty genious-y idea that began in South Africa in 2010, coinciding with the World Cup that year. This time around, a greatly expanded event took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, featuring 25 football (soccer) teams, both male and female, from 19 different countries. The teams were made up of teenagers, many of whom had recently experienced homelessness and the street life, others of whom had not lived on the streets but were at risk due to deeply precarious situations in their communities. All had been taken in by local organizations who worked with them to cultivate positivity in their lives and prevent them from falling victim to the very real dangers surrounding them; violence, addiction, abuse, mental health issues and hopelessness…
For 10 days the event exploded with energy as a whirlwind of activities took place. There was, of course, a big football tournament, culminating in the finals at Fluminense Stadium. But there were also music and dance performances, artistic activities, elaborate opening and closing ceremonies, a touristy trip around Rio, visits to a favela to interact and share with local kids and the creation of gigantic murals! You can imagine the cross-cultural potential when you have teens and their staff members from countries as diverse as India, Egypt, Kenya, Indonesia, Mozambique, the US, Brazil, Argentina, Pakistan, Burundi, Mauritius, Liberia, the Philippines, Nicaragua, South Africa, the UK, Tanzania, El Salvador, and Zimbabwe. The goal of this event (besides giving these kids the absolute time of their lives!) was to use sports and the arts to raise awareness for the plight of millions of street children around the world and call for an end to the abandonment of society’s most vulnerable citizens. 
Before the event began, I created a welcome mural in Vidigal, one of Rio’s most famous and artsy hillside favelas, so that when the kids came marching up the steep hill they’d have a surprise waiting for them. When they got to the top they spent time mingling with local kids, getting their first taste of capoeira and sharing various dance and musical traditions with each other. It was truly amazing to watch everyone interacting, not able to understand each other’s languages but really bonding and getting excited while learning new dance steps and songs. We created a mural in which a maternal figure holds an entire favela-style community in her hands with each participant painting a house with images and poems about their own hopes and dreams for the future. 
The largest mural, at the main event site called Lonier, was on a giant wall facing a football field. On dozens of hexagons (in reference to the football), the participants each wrote messages, poetry, and painted imagery relating to the themes of the event. Together, the hexagons made up 3 large figures; the first two were of an Indian male player and a Salvadoran female player. It also included, on the left side, an homage to Rodrigo, the captain of Brazil’s boys team who was gunned down on the streets of Fortaleza on his fourteenth birthday, only a month before he would have traveled to Rio for the Street Child World Cup, something he was greatly looking forward to. It was a tragic blow to his teammates and friends, who wrote messages to him on the wall, and a reminder of the extremely violent existence that these kids face, even when they have turned their lives around as Rodrigo had done. During one of Brazil’s games, the boys ran over to the image of Rodrigo on the mural after scoring a goal and bowed down in honor of him. Movingly, the Pakistan team then did the same in solidarity with the Brazilian boys. Then the Argentine boys, who had initially had a rivalry with the Brazilian, did the same when they scored. 
For those of us who were there, it was an unforgettable experience full of moving moments. During one match between the female teams from Indonesia and Tanzania, the Indonesian girls celebrated as Tanzania scored goal after goal— it was an uneven game due to Indonesia’s lack of experience– but the girls from both teams would jump on each others’ backs and dance and sing after every goal! Then the Tanzanian goalie allowed an Indonesian shot to go in, and the whole game erupted in joyous celebrations from all the girls and fans, a spontaneous outburst that reflected the spirit of the event. Afterwards the girls became close friends, inventing their own country called “Zimbonesia” with its own flag, and crying their hearts out as they hugged each other goodbye on the final day. Remarkably, this bond was born despite the fact that they couldn’t even understand a word of each other’s languages! 
Some may ask of this and other similar events: why use so much money, time, energy and resources for a couple weeks of sports and arts activities when there is so much need among vulnerable populations for life’s essentials: food, shelter, healthcare, etc. While no one is arguing in favor of organizing such events instead of providing food and shelter, it is important to recognize that there are many challenges that cannot be faced with these basic needs alone. Children are on the streets because they have been stripped of their basic human rights to have a life free from abuse and neglect; to have educational opportunities and safety; to be cared for and provided for. Their societies have allowed them to slip through the cracks. It is important to pressure governments to set up programs for these kids and to provide services in marginalized communities to prevent more children from suffering the same fate. Equally important, ordinary people must stop thinking of street youth as simply thieves and addicts, but instead begin to see them as victims of indifference and aggression on the part of the State, the police and mainstream society. A change in consciousness and a change in public policy: this is what Street Child World Cup and similar projects are calling for by way of high-profile, media-savvy campaigns that highlight the children’s humanity and bring attention to the issues they face. It also aims to bring street youth and like-minded organizations together to meet each other, connect and begin to build a global movement to achieve these goals.
Dozens of news stories have been broadcast across the world by global giants such as BBC, Globo, ESPN and China’s CCTV as well as the event’s massive media team, bringing the stories of the participating kids to the masses. Many of the teams returned home to great celebration in their communities as well as on the part of elected officials and local leaders. The boys from Pakistan, who placed third, were received with financial scholarships for their education. The Burundi players, who represent both the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups who fought a bloody civil war, will tour their nation to advocate for ethnic harmony and reconciliation. In Durban, South Africa, policy was changed to prevent police from forcibly displacing homeless youth, and many officers became soccer coaches for street child teams through a program aimed at preventing violence and exposing the police to the kids’ humanity. These and many other examples show what concrete achievements can be made when people come together in common cause.
New feature by Sahar Sarshar for Voice of America
Posted on November 4, 2013
A Farsi version of this feature will be airing on VOA’s Farsi channel for Iranian viewers this week. Thanks to Sahar Sarshar!!!
From the Ashes: the Power of a Second Chance
Posted on November 1, 2013
Bloomington, IL 2013: “From the Ashes” created with students from the Regional Alternative School.
The student participants from the Regional Alternative School.
“From the Ashes” was a homecoming for me—literally. I left my hometown of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois when I was 18 and have since lived in Chicago, San Francisco, Washington DC and Brooklyn as well as stints in places like Rio de Janeiro, Nairobi, Santiago de Cuba, El Salvador, Cape Verde and on and on… I’ve always gone back home regularly to visit my parents, and the idea came up on many occasions to organize one of my art & social action projects there.
The opportunity finally came by way of local partners who came together to help organize and fund the project. I worked with a group of high school students at the Regional Alternative School who had, for a variety of reasons, not been successful at their traditional high schools and now were being given a second chance at getting an education. I’ve always especially enjoyed working with kids who’ve had a rough time in life, the ones who are considered “challenging” but who I often find to be the most interesting and inspiring. This is probably partly due to my own adolescence, when I had a few challenges of my own. While I wouldn’t compare my experience to some of the severe cases that I’ve come across in my work with young people, I remember feeling isolated and misunderstood, and acting out in a variety of ways: vandalism, shoplifting, drugs… and then a relationship I was in when I was only 15 and 16 years old resulted in pregnancy. While my relationship with my son ended up being one of the best things that ever happened to me, it was quite a shock to my teenage mind to discover that I would be a father—so much responsibility at such a young age!
One of many workshops that led up to the design and creation of the mural.
The first week with the students was all in the classroom. We discussed issues important to their lives and their communities and came up with the theme of “Second Chances” for our project. We studied mural art and its impact on humanity from ancient cave paintings to modern street art and graffiti, took turns drawing each other in different poses, learned a variety of artistic skills and concepts, played games, wrote poetry and songs based on our theme, and created individual works of art. All of this led up to the design of our mural, which we painted over the course of the second week.
Using their ideas, I came up with a design that had several principal figures but that had room for each individual to express themselves through their poems, abstract designs, drawings and written messages, all inspired by the importance of second chances in life, of recognizing unrealized potential, and of the possibility of the rebirth. The students were excited about the project, especially as they have no art in their normal curriculum. It was amazing to watch them represent their own experiences and feelings on the wall, putting it out there for the world to see. One bright, energetic 16- year- old girl pointed to a heart she had painted that had been stitched up. “This is my symbol,” she said, and told me that her childhood had been rough and she had experienced a lot of heartache in her family, but that she had made it through and was feeling positive about her future.
We had a great time painting, being interviewed by local media (TV, radio, front page of the local newspaper!) and coming up with a presentation for the inaugural event, which took place on a beautiful autumn Saturday in the parking lot in front of the mural. There was a big turnout, with friends and family members, local officials and even the mayor, who gave the inaugural speech. I spoke as well, as did three of the students. Thanks to all the sponsors who made this experience possible: the Downtown Bloomington Association, the Mirza Arts & Culture Fund, the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation, and a big thanks to the students and staff of the Regional Alternative School for all your hard work!!! –Joel B
Painting a Syrian Refugee Camp: the Za’atari Project
Posted on June 28, 2013
The Syrian Refugee Youth Arts Project in the giant Za’atari refugee camp in northern Jordan took place in June and July of this year. For this initiative I teamed up with international artists, Syrian refugees and child participants to explore important issues in the camp and the residents’ hopes and dreams for the future of their nation. We painted collaborative murals on tents, washrooms, a hospital and will soon be painting a school. We also created stencils, led art and educational workshops, and organized a day of kite-making and decorating. The project is a collaboration with the global humanitarian agency ACTED and the arts organization APTArt and features a team that includes myself, Syrian artist Jumana Hokan, South African artist Luc van der Walt and US artist Samantha Robison in collaboration with a big group of Syrian refugees and dozens of children and teens. –Joel B
Frustation in Za’atari Refugee Camp
Posted on June 27, 2013
Soldiers with tanks are stationed around the camp to prevent refugees from leaving (photo by my friend Max Frieder)
One afternoon, after the kids had left for the day and we artists were putting some finishing touches on a mural on the outside of a large tent that serves as a community center, we began to hear shouting coming from inside the tent. There had been a meeting going on between local “street leaders” in that area of the refugee camp and one of the organizations that provides services such as water and sanitation. The tension was evident as the polite conversation quickly heated up and devolved into an emotional display of anger. The refugees’ frustration in Za’atari is becoming infamous as news stories consistently show protests that include rock- throwing, property destruction and attacks on international organizations and the Jordanian soldiers. Many are unhappy with the fact that Jordan’s government has forced some refugees to live in dry, desolate places like Za’atari and has prohibited them from working in the country. According to humanitarian workers with experience around the world, the services in Za’atari are far superior to those in other such camps around the world, but for these Syrians it is a big step down; most come from Da’ara, where they were used to green landscapes, flowing rivers and a seemingly endless water supply. Now they find themselves in a blindingly bright white moonscape without a trace of plant life, having to deal with rations on services such as water and food. The heat is exhausting and the wind blows dust everywhere, even creating dust storms that look like mini-tornadoes.
Za’atari refugee camp: photo by Max Frieder
At some point, the argument reached a boiling point and someone got punched. We immediately got evacuated to a nearby caravan for fear that the violence would escalate further, or even that the presence of foreigners could further inflame their anger. A family welcomed us with the sweet, strong Arabic coffee that I’ve quickly come to love here. A middle-aged man sat and talked to us about his life in Syria, where he worked in the government’s security agency until the conflict began, at which point the killing of civilians horrified him to the point that he quit his job and fled with his family. As I listened to his story, I thought about how frustrated I would be to have my life on hold, waiting for what seem like eternity in a dusty, hot wasteland. Yet so many of my friends here are like this man; so welcoming and generous with what little they have.
Arrival at Za’atari Syrian Refugee Camp
Posted on June 11, 2013
I arrived at the airport in Amman, Jordan at around 5:30 this morning and headed to meet up with everyone from the organizations I’ll be working with, APTArt and ACTED. I was surprised to learn that we would be heading to the camp right away! After a quick cup of coffee we were on our way through the desert-y scenery to an area near the border of Syria where a massive refugee camp has sprung up and, in only 9 months, has swollen to 120,000 people! I was impressed to see that the humanitarian agencies, including ACTED who contracted us for this project, have kept this vast tent city very clean and stocked with rations of food, water, housing, and other basic living necessities. Despite this, there is a great deal of chaos here; many times a day, frustrated refugees protest and riot, often throwing stones at aid workers, and we were instructed to evacuate immediately when this happens. Our team includes artists from Syria, Jordan, South Africa and the US who are being organized by the global arts organization AptART.
Our goal here is to use public art to channel the children and teenagers’ energy to beautifying their new community, communicate messages of hope to their fellow residents, and reach the outside world to raise awareness of their plight, as the international media will be covering the project. We intend to set up an initiative that will continue long after we, the international artists, have left the camp. This week we focus on meeting with the community to discuss the themes, imagery and locations of the murals. –Joel
Joel Artista 