“Fruits of Labor” a Sidewalk Mural at Alice's Garden Urban Farm
In the Spring of 2023, Tamarack Waldorf School and PathWays High began a collaboration to create a sidewalk mural for Alice’s Garden Urban Farm. This collaboration was a way for Tamarack and PathWays students to forge a new relationship as well as provide an opportunity for some unique service learning to take place.
The students met at the beginning of May for a planning and design day. Ms. Glass, Tamarack’s Upper Grades Art Teacher, then created a beautiful plan to incorporate the ideas from the groups. Painting occurred over 2 full days in the Garden at the end of May.
We are so grateful for the work of the students and staff to make this idea a reality. We are also grateful to the Brady St. Sherwin-Williams store for the large donation of painting supplies and to RustOleum for the specialty sidewalk paint.
Artist Statement for Alice’s Garden Mural
Title of the mural: Fruits of Labor
There is so much that goes on within the gates of Alice’s Garden that is very reflective of the community building that is needed to promote the regrowth and development of the surrounding areas. The water harvesting project, the emphasis on the preservation of the land, and even the growing plants are just a few of the components that are very indicative of the physical and spiritual growth that starts with the individual and trickles down to the environment. But to reap the benefits of this, there is a need for hard work, consistency, patience, and resilience.
There were many components that the collaborating groups and I tried to convey in the mural. The imagery of the chrysalis and butterfly symbolizes the transformative aspects of the garden as well as its origins. The shadows of the hardly recognizable Milwaukee urban landscape that start on both ends of the image further emphasize the transformation from this urban area to its current natural state. Many of the plants depicted in the mural have various properties on both a physical and spiritual level. Lavender can soothe the physical body and can carry diuretic properties, but it can also heal the spiritual body. Rue can help with menstrual issues and stimulate digestion but also protect and cleanse the spirit. While pumpkins are used as a food source, they also symbolize abundance and prosperity. The mirroring effect in the imagery promotes harmony and balance. Whichever direction one takes on the sidewalk, both sides lead to the same path of growth and transformation. The labyrinth symbolizes the walk to become one with oneself, as well as showcases one of the integral parts of the garden space. While the mural is named "Fruits of Labor," the actual fruits originate from the activities and events that result from the diligent efforts to maintain the space's integrity.
Working on this mural for Alice’s Garden has been very informative and transformative in many ways. Many who pass by the surrounding area of this space (especially if they are traveling via North Avenue) that don’t know its history will quickly sum it up as a decaying urban space with little to no hope of revival. However, upon taking the opportunity to learn more about the garden and what it brings to the community, I have come to learn that it is much more than that. A very special thank you to Dorothy Kulke for presenting the garden as the mural location, as well as to the 6th grade students at Tamarack Waldorf School and Megan Goers, Brittany Check, and the students from Pathways High School for coming together to assist in any process work and execution of the mural. There is also much appreciation for any additional students or parents who contributed to this project in any way they could. An even bigger thank you to Venice Williams and the land that inhabits the garden for allowing us to make this mural as a representation of this space.
Verinia Glass
Upper Grades Art Teacher and Artist
Verinia Glass has been the Upper Grades Art Instructor at Tamarack since 2022. She has a BFA in Animation with a minor in illustration and comes from a very long background of formal training and self-teaching of visual art. She has a lot of experience and wisdom to pass on to the upper classes when it comes to combining form and content to create beautiful visual aesthetics.