Teens Bring Some Color To Harlem River Park
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Teens in East Harlem are tapping into their creative side to spruce up their neighborhood. NY1's Shazia Khan filed the following report. With the stroke of a paintbrush, some local teens are helping to make Harlem River Park more picture perfect.
"I worked hard on my part of the wall so it could make the park look better, make everything look better," says one teen.
Three large-scale murals celebrating Harlem's cultural history and natural surroundings can be found under the 135th Street off-ramp of the Harlem River Drive.
Harlem teens have been working with teaching artists from the not-for-profit Creative Arts Workshops for Kids as part of a summer youth employment program. In just six weeks, they've transformed once-plain brick and concrete walls into vibrant works of art.
"I think that for these kids to learn the artistic skills to produce this scale of work and to know that they can come back here in five years, in 10 years, and point to it and say, 'I did it!' is more than most summer job opportunities give them," says Creative Arts Workshop mural consultant Janet Braun-Reinitz.
The proof is in the paint.
"It just feels great knowing that you did something that everyone will see and then be proud of what you just did," says a teenage participant.
"At first I thought it was impossible," says another. "I see it on the streets sometimes and I think it's real artists doing it, and now it's kids doing it and it's kind of fun."
Along with learning how to use a paintbrush and mix colors, organizers say the kids also took away valuable work lessons.
"We work with them to develop an air of professionalism," says Joseph Demers, program director of CAW for Kids. "So as part of that, they often have to talk about their art work with different community members. They had to present their designs to the task force that is in charge of stewarding this park."
The murals are part of an ongoing effort to revitalize Harlem River Park. Olivia Bright, 15, says painting in her backyard has helped her to take more pride in her community and she looks forward to sharing her work.
"It feels good because I live around here and I can bring my family and friends and show them what I did over the summertime," Bright says.