The past inspires the present to enrich the future.

Facade: Song of Mother Hale

In the middle of the tree I placed a silhouette of Mother Hale, a beautiful spirit who gave love unconditionally to the children of our community.  It is important for us to remember her compassion, because in this fast paced society we often fail to think of others.  Perhaps, in passing by this interpretation of Mother Hale’s spirit, we will be reminded to care for others as her love continues to sing to our heart.

I used dots of many colors to represent people. A myriad of hues and tones go beyond ethnicity to reflect the full spectrum of our different feelings, circumstances and experiences. The aggregated dots create circles to represent the beauty of co-existence. The circles, in turn, come together to form a great tree symbolizing the spirit of the community in all its complexity – a magical entity connecting our lives, our sorrows, our joys, our history and our ancestors. Together we grow and sometimes draw inspiration from this connection.

Windows: The Zoo 146

Before I began designing these windows, I tried to imagine what Mother Hale would do if she were given this assignment. I arrived at the conclusion that she would probably seek to create public art that the local children can enjoy, something fun and educational.

Pedestrians will find 40 animals across 18 windows, transforming 2 blocks into a whimsical zoo for the amusement and edification of passing children of all ages. Vibrant dots of color echo those from the façade art, creating the forms of fresh green grass and flowers to represent positive growth for the future.

The shifting colors in the sky illustrate the constant transition of time. The present is the thread connecting our past to our future. I thank MTA for this great opportunity, allowing me to connect with the past and future of our community. Mother Hale’s contribution from the past inspired me today as a member of community to create the work that can possibly fuel the imagination of children for the future.