EPA: City On The Move, 2014

Bell St. Park, East Palo Alto
227’ X 8’ Acrylic and Spray Paint on Concrete Wall
Lead Artist Scape Martinez

East Palo Alto is a city on the move, filled with vibrant cultures and traditions that are integral to the community. The mural represents the continual forward movement towards progress, with youth and families at the forefront. Each letter has its own characteristics that speak to the fun and playfulness of the parks as well as the diverse populations that make up East Palo Alto.

Vibrant Park: Health Community, 2014

Bell St. Park, East Palo Alto
227’ X 8’ Latex and acrylic paint on Concrete Wall
Lead Artist Laura Nagle

This mural represents the researched ideas of reclaiming and activating space as well as portrays people activating the park spaces of East Palo Alto. Colors are bursting from people playing sports, games, and music. Families and friends come together to use the space for positive, fun, community building activities.

Celebrate East Palo Alto, 2014

Jack Farrell Park, East Palo Alto
1,700 sq ft spray paint on wood
Lead Artist Scape Martinez

The mural represents many voices in chorus. A spectrum of styles, creatively expressing a collective hope. Bold color juxtaposes movement and symbolizes EPA’s growth, dynamism, and diversity. The intention for the dramatic size is to provide varying perspectives and vantage points. Both within, and surrounding the park, the mural engages observers, increases curiosity, and interaction. Each colorful low undulates in shifting value and form. The design was influenced by the elegant, natural flow of dripping, liquid mercury, a symbol of strength and fluidity. The larger bursts of color emanate energy and force, and the smaller splashes of hue are to inspire optimism.

Birds Eye View of Transition, 2014

San Francisco Hall of Justice
6’ X 4’ Mixed Media on Canvas
Lead Artist Laura Nagle

This mural was developed while exploring complex community issues in programs held in the Tenderloin at the Central YMCA that teach graffiti, turntablism, music production, and lyricism, and painting. MMAP’s young artists collectively developed a mission for community prosperity through research, outreach, and collaboration wand their art was inspired by themes including weathering gentrification, enduring violence in their neighborhood, and finding hope. The mixed media installation highlights the heart of the city that comes from the rich cultures, history and stories of our youth.

Make Movements: Spread Your Wings, 2013

San Francisco Superior Courthouse, San Francisco 94102
3’ X 6’, acrylic on canvas
Lead Artist Laura Nagle

This is one of the two murals completed by the Teen Mural Program in San Francisco 2013. In this mural interwoven symbols, largely inspired by the natural world, form a panoramic reflecting social, cultural, and political movements. Through vibrant colors and patterns, the rich beauty and diversity of the communities in San Francisco are represented as well as the ripples of change and progress through droplets of water. The butterflies symbolize flight and migration, but also honors the change passed down through generations.

Make Movements: Rhythm & Flow, 2013

San Francisco Superior Courthouse, San Francisco 94102
4’ X 8’, acrylic on canvas
Lead Artist Sarah Woodward

This mural was created through the San Francisco Teen Mural Program. It shows the power of artistic expression: emerging from the spray can is a keyboard, painted in browns and skin tones instead of blacks, which in one student's words represents the idea that by working together, "we make the perfect song." The students hoped to draw attention to the injustice in the immigration system by juxtaposing the natural movements of birds and butterflies with the controversial movements of people. The mural gives voice to the changes our youth believe still need to take place in society.

Hope, 2013

East Palo Alto City Hall, East Palo Alto, CA 94303
4’ X 9’, acrylic on canvas
Lead Artist Scape Martinez

This mural was created through the East Palo Alto Teen Mural Program and draws on movements of social change for inspiration. Large blue spheres dominate the piece signifying the three branches of government, and the block-like structures give a sense of rigidness to show society’s resistance to change. The design uses abstracted form, color, and space to depict the energy and tension inherent in social movements, aiming to ultimately spread a positive message: “HOPE."

Life is a Journey, Not a Destination, 2012

Starr King Elementary, San Francisco, CA
4' x 8', acrylic paint on plywood
Lead Artist: Sarah Woodward

Created by a team of 35 exceptional 5th graders and staff members this mural represents students' hopes for a healthy, sustainable community where all plants, animals, and people can thrive. Life is a Journey, Not a Destination is the product of collaboration between MMAP, Starr King Elementary, USF, and Urban Services YMCA.

Build Dreams, 2012

International Studies Academy, San Francisco, CA 94103
8' x 30', spray paint on concrete
Lead Artists Scape Martinez and Sarah Woodward

Build Dreams is the product of creative work by nearly 50 students, staff, and community members and represents collaboration between MMAP, International Students Academy, Urban Services YMCA, and SFUSD ExCEL After School Program. The mural shows the aspirations of the students to inspire their community to build itself up and their dreams for peace, justice, professional careers, and environmental sustainability.

Our Voice, 2012

Shih Yu-Lang Central YMCA, San Francisco, CA 94102
8' x 32', acrylic and spray paint on wood panel
Lead Artist Sarah Woodward

This mural represents the culmination of the Teen Mural Program in San Francisco for Summer 2012 and depicts the importance of youth finding a voice to advocate for their communities. Our Voice, designed by a team of nearly 30 students, staff and community members features youth finding a way to express themselves within a larger network of voices speaking out against injustice.

Speak Up, Speak Out: Be the Voice of Change, 2012

Shih Yu-Lang Central YMCA, San Francisco, CA 94102
40' x 25' acrylic and spray paint on concrete
Lead Artists Laura Nagle and Scape Martinez

The final product of the Teen Mural Project in Summer 2012, this mural examines modes of expression and the importance of empowering youth and communities to come together to speak out against injustice. Symbols include references to literal geography as well as important cultural markers such as music and technology. Bringing out the voice of the community through graffiti achieves a holistic vision made up of many perspectives, intertwining identities and stories.

Method in Motion, 2011

500 Startups, Mountain View, CA 94041
4’ X 24’, Acrylic, Markers, Watercolors, and Wood on Drywall
Lead Artists Caleb Duarte and Rachel McIntire

This project was collaboration between MMAP and 500 Start Ups, a seed fund and start up accelerator in the heart of Silicon Valley. This mural detail shows symbols from various cultural traditions interplayed with steps of design thinking.

Sun Stone, 2011

Cesar Chavez Academy, East Palo Alto
10' X 10', Glass, ceramic tiles, and grout on concrete
Lead Artist Sarah Woodward

Sun Stone was created with over 50 students, staff, and parents through MMAP's Health Education through Art Program, in collaboration with Cesar Chavez Academy and Ravenswood City School District. The mural is inspired by the Aztec Calendar (Sun Stone), an important symbol representing the ancestry of many Chavez students. It is installed in the front entrance of the school.

Vision: Claiming Our Voice and Building Our Future 2011

Shih Yu-Lang Central YMCA, San Francisco, CA 94102
9’ X 4.5’, acrylic on canvas
Lead Artist Sarah Woodward

A team of over 30 youth and staff artists created this mural in collaboration with the YMCA. Vision: Claiming Our Voice and Building Our Future depicts the progression from a dark past to a hopeful future as imagined by the Teen Mural Project students. The mural design reflects the growing possibilities of communication, technology, and art as tools to turn vision into reality.

Building and Nurturing Healthy Communities, 2010

International Studies Academy, San Francisco, CA
4’X8’ acrylic on wood panel
Lead Artist Sarah Woodward

This mural featured in the school’s cafeteria comprises the work of 25 5th graders with staff support and shows the view of San Francisco as seen from the school’s location atop Potrero Hill. The cityscape is composed of puzzle pieces representing each student’s part in making their community a better place. This optimistic piece was made in partnership with International Studies Academy.

Envisioning Peace, 2009

MMAP Headquarters, East Palo Alto, CA
30’ X 30’, Acrylic on Outdoor Wall
Lead Artist Laura Nagle

Almost 40 students and staff members created this mural collaboratively. Envisioning Peace is a detailed depiction of global and local fights for peace. Centering on the struggle of youth to enlighten their community about international tragedies, the mural also features heroes from around the world who led the peace movements in various corners of the globe.

San Francisco Neighborhoods, 2008

Trader Joe's, San Francisco, CA
40’ X 8’, Acrylic mural on concrete
Lead Artist Bryana Fleming

Completed with 10 local teen artists this project reflects the communities of the artists and testifies to the opportunities created for youth artists through MMAP’s Public Arts Consulting program. This mural detail depicts landmarks throughout the city showcasing the vibrant neighborhoods in the surrounding area and the diversity of experience to be found throughout San Francisco.

Celebrating Diversity, 2008

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, San Francisco, CA
12’ X 6’, Acrylic on Canvas
Lead Artist Caleb Duarte

This mural shows a patchwork of color and the figures of children emerging from the beautiful mix of backgrounds.

Immigration Nation: We Are All Americans, 2006

Costaño Elementary School, East Palo Alto, CA
32' x 15', acrylic on cement
Lead Artist Ras Martin

This mural, which tackles one of the most pertinent and controversial topics for East Palo Alto residents, capitalized on the talents of more than 50 students, staff, and community members. In this mural detail many flags stitched together in the shape of the United States remind viewers that this nation is composed of people from multi-ethnic and multi-national backgrounds. Immigrants – who serve as the labor “backbone” of American society – support the massive country on their backs in this artistic representation.

Take a Deep Breath: Breathe Out, 2004

East Palo Alto High School
Two 32' x 7' panels, acrylic on cement
Lead Artists Rachel McIntire and Mia Ruez-Escoto

Twenty-two students and staff members collaborated to create Take a Deep Breath: Breathe Out, which explores issues of air pollution and health in the EPA community. This mural detail shows a man taking in clean air representing the aspirations of the community to address pollution.

Mapping Community, 2003

Boys and Girls Clubs of the Peninsula,
McNeil Family Clubhouse, Menlo Park, CA
15' x 5', acrylic on canvas
Lead Artist Omar Ramirez

This mural represents the work of 37 students, staff and community members, who came together to visually represent the changing demographics in their area and to celebrate the blending of cultures that occurs when individuals strive to build community.

Underneath it All, 2002

Willow Oaks Elementary, East Palo Alto
34' x 16', acrylic on cement
Lead Artist Omar Ramirez

Underneath it All is the product of hard work by nearly thirty students, staff members, and volunteers in the Teen Mural Project. Inspired by the struggle of the Muwekma Ohlone to reclaim and properly bury their ancestral bones, Underneath it All celebrates the indigenous heritage all too often obscured by the buildings and development of Silicon Valley. In creating this piece MMAP collaborated with the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe as well as the Stanford Archaeology Department.

We Shouldn't Have to Paint This Mural to Preserve Our Indigenous Baylands, 2002

East Palo Alto Charter School, East Palo Alto, CA
30' x 12', acrylic on cement
Lead Artist Omar Ramirez

This mural was created through the collective efforts of more than 40 students, staff, and community members. We Shouldn't Have to Paint This Mural to Preserve Our Indigenous Baylands calls observers to action by juxtaposing the view directly away from the mural against a view of the same wetlands imagined without development, and hopes that viewers will educate themselves about the local environment and history. This detail is located in front of the school’s library and the rainbow of stories and dreams represented behind the reading student speak to passerby about the power of literacy.

Reflection Eternal, 2001

Boys and Girls Clubs of the Peninsula, East Palo Alto Moldaw-Zaffaroni Clubhouse, CA
26' x 6', portable mural acrylic on canvas
Lead Artist Omar Ramirez

Reflection Eternal explores the issue of multi-generational socio-economic disparity between the communities of East Palo Alto and Palo Alto. Created by a team of 22 talented students and staff the mural features a teenage girl caught between worlds contemplating the stark divisions that characterize her daily life.