Dream, Heal, Change

Project Description

“Dream, Heal, Change” was created by a group of young women incarcerated at the Rose M. Singer Center on Rikers Island. This mural is inspired by the concept of metamorphosis – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Golden butterflies fly across the canvas, each with a word written into its wings. These words were generated by the young women during a brainstorming session about how to live a more healthy life in all forms. As the butterflies fly, they evoke the possibility for change, from locked up to free and from unhealthy to healthy. The mural’s brilliant palette serves to create a space that is both beautiful and uplifting. Creating “Dream, Heal, Change” was the first time many of the girls received credit for making something beautiful.

 

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Project Info

Location: 1111 Hazen Street East Elmhurst, NY 11370

Fun Facts

Research
Rikers Island has an estimated population of 14,000 inmates. On an average day, about 880 of these inmates are women.
Fun Fact
“The function of art is to do more than tell it like it is; it’s to imagine what’s possible.” - bell hooks. bell hooks (intentionally uncapitalized), whose quote is featured in the mural, is an American author, feminist, and social activist.
Impact
Near the completion of the mural, an older inmate passed by and said, “When you see something like that, it just takes the anger out of you.”