A Project To Promote Cultural & Community Harmony Through Art : Fredericksburg, VA
This community project was an initiative by the MORE (Multicultural OutReach Effort) organization to celebrate diversity and promote cultural and racial harmony through creative, artistic expression.
The garden theme of the design was created to complement the physical site location at Roxbury Mills Farm and Garden Center. The mural wall is 32' wide x 8' high, and is located on Jackson Street, by the back entrance to Roxbury.
Various pieces and fragments of different materials, colors, textures and cultures have been successfully combined to create a beautiful and unified mosaic mural which symbolically embodies the affirming message of MORE: to plant seeds of hope, to nurture diversity, and cultivate harmony.
Two project directors met with a selected nine member multicultural Youth Art Team from February - June 2007. This core team met on a weekly basis to create and assemble pieces of the mosaic mural indoors at the Original Walker-Grant School, so they could prepare to transfer the large panels directly on to the wall during the installation week, scheduled for June.
The on-site installation of the mural took place during the week of June 18-22, from 9am-3pm each day. During this time, the Youth Art Team members became responsible community leaders and instructors, with help from over 300 diverse members of the community.
The Unveiling Ceremony & Community Celebration took place on Friday, July 6th, at Roxbury Mills Farm & Garden Center. Mayor Tom Tomzak proclaimed July 6th, 2007 "MORE Day" in Fredericksburg and nearly 500 people celebrated this great community accomplishment.
Conceptualized by: Suzanne Moe
MOREart! Project Directors: Suzanne Moe and Andrea Shreve Taylor
Youth MOREart! Team:
Joy Cunningham, Krystle Demboski, Rudy Gutierrez, Amanda Hamilton, Angus Hamilton, Katie Littleton, Ashley McNeil, D'Angelo Veney, Pierre Woodson
. . . . .
