Lead Artist Angel Garcia has climbed the ladder at Groundswell, working up from the foundation of the scaffold as a youth artist to where he stands today, at the top of the tower, guiding groups of young people in the collaborative research, design, and fabrication of public art.
 
Angel's work with Groundswell started serendipitously. “During the spring of my sophomore year of high school I really needed a job. While talking to my friend, she told me about the Summer Youth Employment Program at Groundswell. So I applied, and started a few months later and I’m glad I did."
 
“I started drawing when I was young. My father was a carpenter back home and before he built anything, he would sketch out the project. I remember watching this so I picked up a pencil and did the same. When I started going to school they really didn’t have an arts program, I mean, they had an art class but that was about it. So I really didn’t think much of my drawings or art in general while in high school.  But once I started with Groundswell I noticed that you can make a life out of this and your work can make a difference,” said Angel.
 
Now he has been with Groundswell for over seven years, contributing on more than 12 murals. In that time he has transitioned through the ranks, from Youth Artist to Assistant Artist to being a Lead Artist with Groundswell.
 
“I work on murals because I really like the idea of art being a tool for social change. I feel that I’ve witnessed it take shape while working on major topics such as gun violence and immigration. I feel that it’s not just the mural that causes the social change but also the experience and the insight that the students receive while working on these projects.”
 
In September 2014, Angel started his first project as a Lead Artist. Groundswell is partnering with Row New York on a mural that focuses on water conservation and environmental stewardship, and promotes awareness of the history and contemporary use of the New York City water system. Although this is his first time as a Lead on a project, he has many years of mural painting experience and brings the techniques he acquired while working under Groundswell artists, including Crystal Bruno, Ryan Smith, and Jess Poplawski. “I learned so much from them. They were my influences, not just as an artist but more so as life mentors,” he said.
 
“I want to encourage young artists to practice doing what they love. The only way to get better is to practice. It will be hard and time consuming but if you keep doing what you love at the end of the day it’ll be worth it.”
 
Last spring Angel graduated with a BA in Illustration from Fashion Institute of Technology. He dreams of becoming a book illustrator.
 
Groundswell's collaboration with Row New York will wrap up this spring with a dedication planned for mid-May.