Social Activism
Create Murals, Indoor/Outdoor| 3D, 2D
Augmented Reality with hand painted or drawn models
Project: Climate Action Murals for Build Back Better Act Awareness in New Jersey (2021)
Art for After Hours Projects based on Social Activism
In the world we all live in and as artists, the opportunity to bring our street painting art as a vehicle for social activism and positive change is paramount for us at Art for After Hours.
Our client base currently involves corporate and festivals with more work always in development.
Below are examples of our commitment:
Mount Holly, New Jersey
Created as part of a series of street painting art works supporting the Build Back Better Act during September 2021 for event sponsored by the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters. The message is ‘Our Kids Deserve Climate Action Now’ and culminated with an appearance by US Representative Andy Kim (D-NJ) giving a speech about this important issue.
Somerville, New Jersey
Focus upon solar energy use, the artwork uses a solar panel to reflect the call for New Jersey need for Climate Action Now.
Morristown, New Jersey
The first of a series of chalk street painting projects across New Jersey in support of the Build Better Act presenting messages calling climate action now.
International Culture Day in Redding CT (May 2021)
Street art installation completed for an International Culture Day for Redding Elementary School in Redding CT. We dedicated the art to the People of India who were fighting a dramatic spike in COVID-19 cases.
MTV Get Out The Vote in New York City 2020
A series of guerilla style street art pieces in chalk drawn to call out the need to vote in the 2020 US Presidential Elections done in several locations in Manhattan. The concepts were made with respect to iconic 20th Century Pop Artists with the vote message in similar stylistics. From top right: Roy Liechtenstein, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Robert Indiana.
Social Activism Festival Projects/Concept Art During 2018-2021
A series of festival projects and concept art expressing our thoughts on certain issues during the last few years including during the Coronavirus outbreak in 2020.
‘Everyday Heroes…’ (2020) A whimsically executed illusionary piece depicting our American situation in 2020. The setting is based upon the 1973 artwork by Betty Swanwick used on the album ‘Selling England by the Pound with the lawn and trees on each side. Centered are Wendy and I on a couch, staying safe, facing the viewers and the world. Wendy is holding a sunflower as a symbol of hope while I am next to a sack of coins slipping away to the ground along with economic conditions. One of our most hopeful political figures is shielding us as the People with the Flag from being looted by the one with the red tie, playing golf, yelling at a child mowing the lawn, a veteran for Black Lives Matter, and anyone who isn’t one of his. The distance shows our barricaded White House, with its security wall, meant to keep the people away, attempting to divide and not unify at that time. The peace sign at the lower right symbolizes our hopes for a better future for all of us.
5 by 5 feet acrylic on canvas in studio.
Lockdown UK Virtual Festival.
‘Dandelions Blow Away…’ (2020) An illusionary piece where we hope our world’s troubles ‘blow away’ soon and we can return to doing what all of us like to do best in our lives. Architectural elements are integrated in my conceptual work and in this piece a mesh element was used to join with the dandelion bringing the built and the natural together as one motif.
5 by 5 feet acrylic on canvas in studio.
Stawell International Lockdown Festival, a virtual street art festival centered in Australia.
‘Shell Game’ (2019) A concept piece calling attention to the ever growing environmental issues of plastic and trash collecting in our world’s oceans.
The designs of the shells are meant to mimic the plastic trash (at right) growing and at what point will the two become even indiscernible?
‘Freedom From Fear 2.0’ (2021) A colored pencil sketch I created in the wake of what happened to us all on January 6th, 2021 at our Nation’s Capitol (at left). Inspired by the Norman Rockwell series of ‘The Four Freedoms’ the concepts presented to the American people by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in some of our Nation’s darkest hours. I reinterpreted the imagery using President Biden and Vice President Harris as our Nation’s guardians watching over the sleeping children (us overall, immigrant children in particular) blanketed by the American Flag in the evening of our strife.
The mob beyond at right is recognized only in terms of the division and not a shade more. Our incoming leadership realizes their responsibility knowing what is at stake for all.
Free, without Fear.
‘Respect Existence…’ (2018) a 3D and 4D street painting art project calling attention to the detained children of immigrants seeking asylum in the US whom at this time had nearly 500 children yet to be reunited with their parents.
Little Italy Madonnari Festival, Baltimore, MD
‘We Hold These Truths to be Self Evident’ (2020) A pastel rendering expressing our National Times as We The People stood up to the Trump Regime as one for all regardless of color, orientation, or circumstance. I was moved by the assault of peaceful protests in front of the White House by Police, National Guard with tear gas, pepper spray, flash grenades, and brutal force so Trump could wave an upside down Bible and threaten our Nation. Please note the upside down Flag is a symbol of Distress and not of disrespect.
‘Here But Not Here…’ (2018) Created at the Sarasota Chalk Festival’s theme of Evanescence’ Art for After Hours presented the story of a refugee child. Amidst the rubble and desolation of a stop on her journey, she blows bubbles representing some of the nations with the most dramatic refugee crises.
Wendy and I selected South Sudan, Syria, and Myanmar (Burma) for the piece. As a child, enjoying for the briefest of moments - a chance to be a child while sharing a message with the viewers. We hear and read about refugees’ plights, but our thoughts move past them as we put down the information and move on with their lives.
They are ‘here, but not here’.
Art for After Hours social activism murals, concepts and projects created to address social issues important to us as a company and as creative artists for like minded clients seeking a thoughtful yet positive message for their viewers. Projects can be 2D, 3D and add 4D augmented reality for interaction virtually currently and live at the time in the future that all of us may do so.