Street Art Aims to Mend a Torn Neighborhood
The US Initiative challenges us to imagine a future for livability as expressed in the Declaration of Interdependence: We can enjoy art, beauty and nature every day.
Maarten Jacobs of the near Westside Initiative is imagining that future now with “A Love Letter to Syracuse,” an art project unveiled yesterday that is aimed at turning rusty railroad bridges on Syracuse’s Near West Side into conversation pieces.
Taking their inspiration from the University of Syracuse Chancellor Nancy Cantor who promotes engaged scholarship and Marilyn Higgins, her go-to person on all things community, Jacob’s group hired legendary street artist Steve Powers to repaint a hulking steel bridge that divides some of the city’s richest residents from some of the country’s poorest. Powers has long worked on reviving communities through street art and was quoted in a recent Fast Company article saying he hopes “A Love Letter to Syracuse” will show that “we value every part of our city, no matter what the racial or socio-economic make up of the city is.”
What is your city doing to make art and beauty available to citizens every day? Tell us your comments and become part of the movement.
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