STEP-UP Interns Enter the 'Real World' of Mural Work

Thursday, June 21st marked the second day of the journey of the STEP-UP interns into the ‘real world’ of mural work. Although I had not seen the site before it had been partially transformed, the progress was incredible. A blank, dirty, and previously vandalized cinderblock wall served as the canvas for the interns, located on 3209 Snelling Avenue South in Minneapolis.

As per the owner’s request, part of the wall was to become an American flag. However, Mentoring Peace Through Art delivered far more than one would expect. The wall shows a waving flag that transforms into a bald eagle in a bold, baby blue sky. But this is no run-of-the-mill flag. Within each seemingly solid space is a maze of interlocking lines of different shades, lengths, and thicknesses. This complexity is artist Jimmy Longoria’s signature style. The depth to the murals combats gang graffiti in that any graffiti is barely visible amidst the colorful chaos within the mural.

More remarkable than the transformed wall itself was the incredible growth within the team of STEP-UP interns. They communicate with ease, and have become both friends and coworkers. One incident that is prominent in my memory is when a smaller intern was struggling with moving a ladder nearly four times his size, and nearly as soon as his hands began to tremble, about four other interns rushed to his side and helped him secure the ladder where it needed to be. It’s moments like these that make programs like STEP-UP and Mentoring Peace Through Art truly unbelievable. The sense of strong community combined with a phenomenal work ethic will surely make a difference in Minneapolis and beyond. 

Check out more photos on Mentoring Peace Through Art's Flickr website!