Pulling Together

The concept for the mural was stimulated by the University of Houston, Dean of Social Work, Ira Colbey, and his interest to bring together the nearby Third Ward community, Project Row Houses, a local arts center, and the Graduate School of Social Work.  Rick Lowe, founding artist of Project Row Houses, referred Reginald Adams to Dean Colbey upon the GSSW request to create a community art project for the university.  After numerous consultations and brainstorming sessions the university and the team of artists conceived the idea to create a tile mosaic mural.  The mural depicts actual residents from the community, students, faculty/administration from UH and the artists in a collective effort of pulling together.  Photos were adapted into a study for the mural.  The artists transfered the photos to life size proportions on hardiback panels.  Then the artists team filled in the drawings with colored ceramic tiles.  The mural was completed Decemeber 1999 and was installed in January 2000. At the focal point of the mural rises a mirrored sphere.     Mirrored tile was used to reflect the viewers of the mural and the sphere is to symbolize the quest for higher knowledge and understanding of self and others.   With over 40 actual subjects that posed for the mural representing all walks of life, the mural itself becomes representational of the whole human race. 

This theme reflected the goals and mission of the Graduate School of Social Work: Social and Economic Justice for All.  Collectively, ArtworkZ, the University of Houston and the Third Ward  has displayed new and innovative strategies in which artists, businesses and communities can collaborate successfully.

The mural now creates a  very welcoming atmosphere for the student lobby of the University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work and has stimulated interest to develop additional artistic features to the lobby area of the school.

Location: University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work, 1st floor main entrance lobby.                                                                          

Dimensions: 7 Walls    2 @ 5'3"L x 8'4"H,  2 @ 9'L x 8'4"H, 1 @ 8' 10" L x 8'4"H, 1 @ 21' x 8'4", and 1 @ 5'7"L x 8'4"H                    

Medium: Ceramic tile mosaics                                                                                                                                                                                 

Artists: Reginald & Rhonda Adams,Richard Adams, Eric Gooden, Andre King, Mark Galbreath, Nicole Eugene, Natalie Eugene,                 Nadine Eugene, and YahYah Johnson.                                                                                                                                                                    

Date: January 2000

Poses

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