Teen Mural Workshop in Urban Athens: Kipseli Neighborhood
Overview
Barbara Hionides proposes the following creative addition to 26th Middle School in Athens, designed to enhance the atmosphere of the building's exterior, establish a strong presence in its community, and serve as tool to educate teens about mural making. The large scale mural measures 150 m2 and will be made by teenagers from beginning to end during a one week workshop instructed by Barbara Hionides for Streetlights. The purpose is to learn the process of creating a mural, both conceptually and technically.
Streetlights & Kipseli Neighborhood
I met Philemon, founder of Streetlights Organization, 8 years ago. We found ourselves, amongst other young Greek professionals, looking for ways to support the future of Greece, which we mutually agreed was the development of children. Since then, through many countless efforts, he and his small team have sustained a safe space for hundreds of children of all ages. The organization is called Streetlights. Their purpose is to support children in finding their creativity, confidence and leadership skills to follow a more positive life path. The organization is specifically located in the neighborhood of Kipseli. Kipseli is the most densely and diversely populated neighborhood in Greece. Most families are low-income immigrant and refugee families, working multiple jobs, living in closely built apartment buildings, trying to sustain their families. This causes hundreds of children to use the outdoor piazza as a playground. Since 2021, a major part of the piazza is now not accessible due to the new metro construction ( which will continue for several more years). The local school which we will be painting and Streetlights barely have funds to stay operational. These spaces provide vital safety and support to the children of the neighborhood.
For more information about Streetlights click here
To support my GoFundMe for this project click here
To support my GoFundMe for this project click here
About the Mural Design Concept
The design is simple enough for teenagers to challenge themselves but also have a good, finished product they can be proud of. The mural’s theme is diversity, personality and our shared experience as a community. The ordinary and simple things that we love and connect with that make us who we are.
The design accomplishes the following:
-Establishes representation of different ethnic groups, making children feel a sense of belonging.
-Visually communicates that the building is a middle school.
-Provides a colorful and fun feeling, which is interconnected with the liveliness of the neighborhood.
The design accomplishes the following:
-Establishes representation of different ethnic groups, making children feel a sense of belonging.
-Visually communicates that the building is a middle school.
-Provides a colorful and fun feeling, which is interconnected with the liveliness of the neighborhood.
About the Workshop
Workshop Schedule:
Workshop will be held in Streetlights Building (Iakinthou 2, Athina 113 64, Greece) from 11 am - 1 pm (might change)
Students must be committed to attending the workshop 2 hours a day with a full 4 day mural production at the end of the week.
Day 1: June 15th
Diversity-
Day 2: June 16th
Technique-
Day 3: June 17th
Abstract Symbolism + Composition
Mural production starts:
Day 4: June 18th
Prepping our wall - Sketching our shapes on the wall
Day 5 + 6: June 19 + 20
Spray paint practice by completion of colored shapes on wall
Day 7 + 8 + 9: June 21 +22 +23
Learn doodle method
Spray paint faces on top of shapes.
Workshop will be held in Streetlights Building (Iakinthou 2, Athina 113 64, Greece) from 11 am - 1 pm (might change)
Students must be committed to attending the workshop 2 hours a day with a full 4 day mural production at the end of the week.
Day 1: June 15th
Diversity-
- Take pictures of friends making faces that express who they are – preferably the demographic will reflect the neighborhood’s demographic.
- Choose top 2 photographs
- Pictures are then printed
Day 2: June 16th
Technique-
- Transforming the pictures of the faces into drawings on blank piece of paper using graphite pencil
- Painting outlines with black paint
- Choose your favorite front the two
Day 3: June 17th
Abstract Symbolism + Composition
- Each kid creates abstract shape that represents something ordinary in their everyday life.
- As a group, we arrange shapes and faces on the mural wall ( using digital drawing software Procreate)
Mural production starts:
Day 4: June 18th
Prepping our wall - Sketching our shapes on the wall
- Teenagers will take turns on lift with Barbara putting tape on entire wall while others paint the bottom portion of the wall white
Day 5 + 6: June 19 + 20
Spray paint practice by completion of colored shapes on wall
- Learning how to use spray can
- Learning how to fill in
- Learning how to do gradients using two colors
- How to properly use and store materials
- Teenagers will will sign up for 1 hour time slots during early morning and afternoon hours (8 am - 12 pm) and (5 pm - 9 pm)
- Teenagers will use lift with Barbara in order to paint shapes - Only with approved parental agreement
Day 7 + 8 + 9: June 21 +22 +23
Learn doodle method
Spray paint faces on top of shapes.
Project Details
What will be needed Lesson days
An indoor classroom
Black Paint – Acrylic
Pencils , Erasers, Sharpeners
White heavy paper (for watercolor)
Access to a printer
An indoor classroom
Black Paint – Acrylic
Pencils , Erasers, Sharpeners
White heavy paper (for watercolor)
Access to a printer
What will be needed on Mural Production days
At least 2-3 adult volunteers
Lift that can stay on site for at least 5 days (should be set up 1 day prior to the starting date)
1-2 Ladders (Ladders would be stored in closet or a safe area)
Access to site
Access to running water (for cleaning and painting purposes), electricity and restrooms.
Area with shade
Music
Snacks/Food
Water to drink
Cooler
Materials:
Strong painters tape
Wall color to paint bottom of the wall
Rollers or spray gunBlack spray paint (4-6 400ml Montana Cans)
Colored Spray Paint ( 2-3 of each color : 21 cans 400ml Montana Cans)
Exterior Black Paint
Paint brushes
Tarps
Chalk
Fundraising Goal : $ 2,000
Please click the GoFundMe link: https://gofund.me/d91327de to make a donation