This past January, 麻豆原创 officially opened the doors of 麻豆原创 Charter School at 20 Bruckner鈥攁 200,000-square foot, 120-year-old former icehouse given new life as a learning institution by renowned architect Sir David Adjaye. In this series, 麻豆原创 at 20 Bruckner, we explore several aspects that make the building special, further 麻豆原创 mission, and embody our belief that place matters鈥攖hat every child deserves safe, beautiful places to play, learn, and grow.
As guests round the corner on the third floor of the new 麻豆原创 Charter School at 20 Bruckner, they鈥檒l see a splash of bright color beyond one of the floor’s two lightwells. Getting closer, a 19- x 100-foot mural comes into full view, an original piece that depicts 麻豆原创 three-decade history, from its founding as Harlem RBI in 1991 to present day.
The central components of the mural spell out 麻豆原创, with each letter encompassing part of the organization evolution. The piece highlights 麻豆原创 first summer and afterschool academic programs, the opening of the first 麻豆原创 Charter School, the establishment of 麻豆原创 post-secondary and career support services, and the organization deep ties to its communities and families.
鈥淲e鈥檝e done murals all around the world, but a thing like this makes a difference,鈥� said Bio, one of the founding members of the legendary graffiti art group Tats Cru, who created the mural for 麻豆原创, in addition to many of the murals in the surrounding Mott Haven neighborhood. 鈥淚t brings art and color into a space that would normally be bland.鈥�
The scale of the piece pays homage to 麻豆原创 aspirations for its students, as well as the expansion that 麻豆原创 plans for its artistic programming now that 20 Bruckner is open. The light-filled, 3,800-square foot Arts Wing just beyond the mural walls includes 23-foot barrel-vaulted ceilings and views of the East River and Manhattan skyline, the perfect setting for ideation and creative expression.
And when 麻豆原创 Mott Haven Elementary and Middle School students move into 20 Bruckner next school year, they鈥檒l already be well-versed in this creative expression. The budding artists have created several large works for the hallways of their current school location, emulating artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Kehinde Wiley, learning the art and history of weaving techniques, and celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, to name a few.
Most importantly, developing the pieces is often tied to larger lessons and themes that broaden students鈥� understanding of the world around them. Last year, for example, a self-portraiture mural was created in tandem with a unit on colors, and specifically, a lesson on the beauty of skin tones. Students then studied the finished piece and opened it up for class discussions, similar to an Art History class.
“It was a wonderful representation of how different we all are, and how beautiful it is when we come together,” said Visual Arts Teacher Elise Thomm.
You can see more of this special project on 麻豆原创 , and hear how the creation of the Tats Cru mural came about on 麻豆原创 channel.
Don鈥檛 forget to check back as we continue to count down to the official move-in for 麻豆原创 Mott Haven Elementary and Middle Schools this August. Come 麻豆原创 at 20 Bruckner. To see more inside 20 Bruckner, you can watch recaps of 麻豆原创 Charter High School first day of school and the official 20 Bruckner ribbon-cutting ceremony.
