Social Traps

  • The mural calls for a stronger community to prevent gun violence.
  • Tape is used to keep lines sharp, especially when painting letters.
  • The mural team used powerful imagery to emphasize its anti-gun message.
  • This detail shows the impact of gun violence on family and relationships.
  • The mural also dealt with racial issues surrounding gun violence.

Project Description

“Social Traps” was created in partnership with Aspirations Diploma Plus High School in East New York, Brooklyn. The students created the mural as an anti-gun violence advertisement for the high school walls. The students researched ways to prevent gun violence, shared personal stories, and created the mural to address these pressing issues. The team employed a visual style taken from popular culture, involving bold messaging, bright colors, and repetition. The mural was designed to subliminally market the consequences of social disorder. The team also discussed how the media defines and brands lower income communities as areas of disorder, decay, and neglect. “Social Traps” promotes a powerful message of anti-gun violence to Aspirations students, with hopes that this message will spread beyond the high school’s walls and into the streets.

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Project Info

Location: 1495 Herkimer Street Brooklyn, NY 11233
Neighborhood: 
Williamsburg


Program: 
School-based Programs


Theme: 
Anti-Gun Violence


Year: 
2010


Partner(s): 
Aspiration Diploma Plus High School


Lead Artist(s):
Bayunga Kialeuka


Assistant Artist(s):
Chris Beck


Participants: 

 

Jeff Dieu
Naomi Gaddy
Chelsea Sutherland
Wynta Holley
Sancia Daley
Sherwin
Medium: 
Acrylic on Drywall


Dimensions: 15 x 82ft

Fun Facts

Fun Fact
New York City used to be one of the most dangerous cities in America. Today, New York doesn’t even make it onto the list of the top 25 most dangerous cities to live in.
Quote
“This mural brings viewers to understand moments in their lives when they are faced with the decision to participate in violence that has nothing to do with self-defense. The mural is a symbolic narrative of that choice.” - Bayunga Kialeuk, Lead Artist
Research
According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, gun violence claims the lives of over 30,000 people each year. This is the equivalent to about 85 deaths each day and more than three deaths every hour.