That time eight iconic NYC street artists transformed a school building in two weekends. Video by: NOE.
PROJECTIVITY X THRIVE COLLECTIVE X TATS CRU
PS 9 The Ryer Avenue School (The Bronx)
1st Floor: “Welcome to the Bronx” - Artists: BG 183, Bio, Nicer
2nd Floor: “Bronx All Stars” - Artists: Andre Trenier, Daze, Marthalicia
3rd Floor: “Global Citizens” - Artists: Crash, Giannina Guiterrez
Artists Daze, André Trenier, and Marthalicia wanted to highlight notable Bronx natives and others who have made an impact in the borough. Daze created a portrait of Astrophysicist and planetary scientist Neil DeGrasse Tyson. With design and style input from the Principal and the student body, André Treneir was inspired by Bronx native and comic book writer Stan Lee, along with hip hop icons DJ Kool Herc, Debi Dee, and Sha Rock. His portrait of Stan Lee, set against a comic book background, tells the story of other cultural icons and hip hop pioneers from the borough. The final portrait serves as a memorial tribute to P.S. 9’s librarian Lucy Vigilant-Smith. Lucy Vigilant-Smith passed away in March 2022 and had a huge impact on the P.S. 9 community. She had an unwavering passion for improving her community through promoting literacy and sociocultural development and was the epitome of a servant leader. Lucy was devoted professionally and personally to making sure every child in her community had the opportunity to be successful in school and in life. She provided staff development for teachers, mentored students on social and emotional needs, hosted regular parent engagement and enrichment events using library resources, and sponsored programs such as health fairs, career days, and reading motivation programs. By including her with Stan Lee and others, André wanted the student body to recognize that they too are heroes. Marthalicea featured two civic icons born and raised in the borough, Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor and the borough’s first African American woman District Attorney Darcel Clark.
