Together with SCAD SERVE, I led a team of volunteers to revitalise the community basketball court at the Savannah Jewish Educational Alliance.

This was a part of the SCAD POP (Paint Our Parks) initiative that focuses on serving our communities we call home through public art.

In designing this mural, I worked closely with SCAD SERVE and the members of the Savannah Jewish Education Alliance. As I wanted this mural to belong to them, I focused on including themes that they suggested such as ahava/love, tikkun olam/repair the world, chesed/kindness, connections, and friendship. The design is centered on the sacred Jewish symbol of the Menorah, with the branches reaching out like arms into the community, touching on these themes symbolised by the heart, the globe, the JEA logo, and the hands connecting. The arms weave in and out of the basketball and pickleball court lines, similarly to how the JEA is interwoven with the community. Front and centre of the design is the JEA Envision The Future logo which is the face of their current initiative to revitalise the JEA community center. The olive branch is a symbol of peace and comfort in the Jewish Community so I sought to include them in the design through the hopscotch court. The white elements like the expression marks and stepping stones inject energy into the court, while the counting strokes against the dark green allude to the classroom chalkboard and learning to count as well as keeping score on the court. Along with the hopscotch and four square areas, these design elements include the kids as a part of the community.

Before

Design Process

In collaboration with the SCAD SERVE team, I was asked for three distinct concepts which were then refined to two concepts that were presented to the JEA. My final design stayed true to the initial ideation of a menorah centered design.

Final Mural Design

Painting

Although not all elements of the design are obvious from the ground view, I hope that even the movement of the arms and bright colours energise the community and that they feel inspired to play and interact with this court for years to come.

It has been such an honor to work alongside SCAD again to create something so beautiful and meaningful for the Jewish Educational Alliance community in my home city of Savannah. Seeing the excitement of the members of the JEA and their children while working on this mural meant so much to me and excited me to have played a role in uplifting and energizing their community. As an artist, it is always magical to see your designs come to life, especially at such a grand scale. It is humbling to know I am but a drop in the paint bucket of greater change the SCAD POP (Paint Our Parks) initiative is undertaking to serve our local communities through public art.

News Coverage

FOX28 “SCAD alum designs large-scale mural as part of school's 'Paint Our Parks' initiative”

WSAV “SCAD beautifies basketball court at Jewish Educational Alliance”

WTOC “SCAD completes “Paint Our Parks” project”

KWCH “SCAD completes “Paint Our Parks” project”

WJCL “SCAD transforms basketball court at Jewish Educational Alliance”

SavannahCEO “SCAD SERVE “Paint Our Parks” Transforms Play Area at Savannah JEA”

Ground News “'We had to work through different concepts': Mural painted at JEA”