“The Beginning of PS50 Stars”
Plushie partnered up with Thrive Collective to paint a collaborative mural with the 3rd and 4th grade students at PS50 in Jamaica, Queens. The mural’s theme was diversity, based on the students backgrounds and the different cultures in the local community. Students partook in coming up with the design of the mural through classroom discussion and drawing activities based off of the theme. And joined in on the painting fun once it was time to execute the design on the wall.
“Earth Day”
Plushie partnered up with Assembly Member Manny De Los Santos and DOT’s Open Streets to host a community painting station in Dyckman for their earth day celebrations. Music, food, and bubbles filled the air as the families partook in painting the Earth Day design.
“Be A Star”
To start off 2024, Plushie, Vanesa and Yukiko team up to collaborate with over one hundred students at P.S.18 Edward Bush to create a polytab mural for four floors in their school stairwell! Through the non profit Thrive Collective, the artists did a twelve week program where they discussed the themes and concepts for the mural with the students. And taught classes on a weekly basis as well as hosted a public painting party for the local community to join in on mural fun.
“ El Barrio Mi Comunidad ”
Another Summer mural painted with the community via a community painting party in El Barrio, Spanish Harlem. Plushie and Miri Banana hosted the event through the non profit program, Thrive Collective. Painting with everyone from all age groups enjoying the sun, watching dance performances, playing games and eating yummy food being served at the event. Families from the neighborhood and local school field trip groups attended the event.
“ Heart of Harlem”
Plushie hosted a painting party at a community event in the heart of Harlem. Lots of families from the neighborhood showed up. There was tons of music, food and yummy treats handed out throughout the event on this sunny and beautiful day!
“ 7 Healthy Habits Tree ”
At P.S.78 in the Bronx, the principal wanted Plushie and Miri Banana to paint a mural welcoming the students into the new school year with a reminder of their school values based off of the book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. Inspired by the original paper tree that was there made by students many years back, Plushie and Miri designed a new friend for the students to be greeted by.
“Little Piece Of Home”
In August 2023, Plushie and Kadeem Philips collaborated with Crossroads Juvenile Detention Center and Thrive Collective on a mural for the residents’ gymnasium. With the help of the residents from E Hall, they brainstormed and painted this mural based off of their favorite memories from home. As well as bits from their communities/neighborhoods that made them happy or sparked nostalgia.
In the summer of 2023, Plushie joined the Heartbeat Festival coordinated by Thrive Collective and hosted a paint party for four queens based high schools to create a mural together. This event discussed healthy alternatives managing mental health and being Anti-Gun Violence. Through rapping, poetry, painting, sports and spending time checking in on loved ones, the students spent the day under the sun rotating stations trying out all of these activities.
“Haven Values”
In 2023, muralists Plushie, Colleen and Yukiko went to Mott Haven Academy Charter School and collaborated with over 80 students to beautify the bottom half of the school building. Upon beginning the project, the wall held an older student mural that was peeling off the wall and needed a refresher. All of the ideas designed on the wall are based off of students’ drawings of their school’s values and ideas discussed from classroom discussion. Over the course of a 12 week program through Thrive Collective, our artists, students and community volunteers created a new mural based off of the school’s four pillars of values. The four pillars of the school being: Honesty, Value Community, Never Give Up and Live Life.
BEFORE
AFTER
“Dr.Seuss To Papoose”
At the Academy for College Preparation and Career Exploration, muralists Awesum and Plushie collaborated on a mural commemorating the life of Mr.Moses, a beloved teacher and leader in the school’s community. As well as, the journey of the students that enter the school as young as ten years old, graduating and leaving the school at eighteen years old. The themes, drawings and phrases used in this mural were based off of the students ideas discussed in class. And drawings they shared based on their experience in school and what they envision themselves being years after graduation. This mural is located on the third floor, next to Mr.Moses’ old classroom, where they renamed the floor after his legacy. His family and loved ones were invited to memorialize him together at the ceremony of this mural, where it gave them an opportunity to grieve when they couldn’t during the pandemic due to the lock down.
“Faith”
Through Thrive Collective, Plushie painted a mural based on the theme of faith for the Coney Island Gospel Assembly on one of their disaster relief trailers. She very fortunate welcoming the Autumn season and sending off the Summer with such a meaningful mural. For this project, the Assembly wanted to bring light and hope to the neighboring and immediate community when they seek refuge and aid there during a disaster. Because this is a beacon of hope during such a time, they wanted to brighten up the trailers with a pop of color to provide a welcoming warmth. It was a very tender and humbling experience for her to have the honor of participating in.
“A Better Tomorrow”
For this project, Plushie and Peach collaborated on a mural at P.S.018 John Peter Zenger through Thrive Collective and Bronx Connect. The theme of the mural was based on the students’ reflection on their favorite memories at the school. And some of their favorite activities they enjoyed throughout their time there thus far. The school had also added new extracurricular activities and wanted to highlight all of the options the school had to offer for the upcoming class year. Collaborating with the students of the school’s summer program, the design was inspired by their drawings and ideas brought up through classroom activities. Through communal painting days, this project was a colorful addition to the neighborhood, across the street from Lincoln Hospital highlighting the endless opportunities the new generations have to offer.
“Winter Wonderland”
Plushie lead and designed this mural for Living Redemption Community Development Corporation’s (LRCDC) holiday event in Harlem, New York. Through Thrive Collective, she was able to design this fun winter wonderland themed piece as an activity for the children and parents to partake in. The participants were given materials, such as paint and brushes and offered guidance by the artists from Thrive Collective to loosely fill in the shapes of the design. Once the event was over, Plushie and a few Thrive artists came together and completed the mural in time to deliver it to LRCDC’s hub for their holiday dinner celebration. A huge thank you to all of the team who helped this project run smoothly and the families that partook in bringing this mural to life!
“Los Pilares de Cambio”
Through Thrive Collective, artists Plushie and Awesum taught, collaborated and guided over 100 students at P.S.155 and Renaissance School of the Arts (RSA) in Harlem, New York on a giant creative mural project. The theme of the mural was based off of Afro-Latino centered leaders and leadership. Over the course of four months, the artists taught weekly lessons. For the students at P.S.155 this was their first and only means of art due to the fact that their school doesn’t have an art department. This provided over 50 students a safe space to learn creativity, collaboration and experiment with different mediums. While for the rest of the students in RSA, although familiar with the arts, gave them an opportunity of creative freedom away from their exams. Discussion on topics such as leadership, culture and inspiration were had, as well as some games to break the ice. Leaders highlighted in the mural are: Julia De Burgos, Clemente Soto Velez, Petra Allende, Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez, Miriam Jimenez Roman and Felipe Luciano. With the help of thrive artists and school faculty, communal painting days were held to progress the process. This really brought the community together and allowed locals to be excited as well. Upon completion, the schools and the artists hosted a summer festival for the students, faculty, families, and community volunteers to celebrate the mural.
“Be Kind”
Through the non profit program, Thrive Collective, Plushie project managed and painted alongside muralist Miki Mu and Chris Colon at P.S.889 in Brooklyn, New York. Over the course of four months, they taught weekly lessons to over 100 students from third and fourth graders. Lessons involving drawing activities, critical thinking and discussion on the theme, Kindness. After a few weeks, concept designs for the mural is discussed together and an idea gets chosen. With Principal Ms.Militello, school faculty, parents and students, they coordinated family painting days and provided a fun, creative, safe space for all until the mural was completed. Upon completion a ribbon cutting celebration was held. Students, school faculty and parents celebrated with the artists, wrapping up the school year and welcoming in summer break.
“Be Your Own Superhero”
For this project, Peach had Plushie assist on details and characters to complete a mural project that Thrive Collective, The Brooklyn Nets and House of Slay collaborated on to paint I.S.220 in Sunset Park.
Painting Lounge
At the tail end of the pandemic, Plushie taught painting classes to adults, private parties and families at Painting Lounge studios across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Recreating abstract fine art pieces of environments or objects and breaking them down into step by step processes for beginners and intermediate painters alike.
