Clean Air for Chinatown

SITE: happy lamb hot pot | Organizer: pao arts center | Boston MA 2024

Neighborhood and built environment is one of the five social determinants of health. Nearby highways and other historical contributors to poor air quality impact the health in Chinatown. Several recent articles alerted the public that Chinatown has the worst air quality in the state of Massachusetts. Residents experience high rates of asthma and other related conditions. Residents quoted in the articles express helplessness at this long-recognized problem. However there are collective actions that we can take for a healthy Chinatown. Examples include air quality monitoring, creating low emission zones, investing in cycling infrastructure, and increasing green space.

My window design at Happy Lamb relays the dream of a Chinatown with clean air. It portrays lambs frolicking in green space, breathing in and celebrating clean air. In the center, a wave of fresh air carrying cherry blossoms wafts in through the Chinatown gate. Everybody deserves clean air. Collective action can improve quality of life for thousands of neighbors. It starts with a common goal and a common vision: Clean Air for Chinatown. 

Dream Big, Work Hard

SITE: RFK Elementary School | Organizer: providence art, culture, tourism | Providence RI 2023

“Dream Big / Work Hard” consists of seven murals along Nelson Street and Eaton Street. The design is inspired by the school’s four pillars: respect, safety, achievement, and responsibility. I selected achievement as the most motivating, positive, and visual concept. 

Beginning with the school’s existing mascot– a dolphin– I created a cast of oceanic and celestial characters. Together the paintings illustrate what achievement can look like. On Nelson Street, a dolphin balances the earth on its nose while a cloud watches, impressed. In another panel, a dolphin wearing a space suit with a smiley face patch floats by Jupiter, who appears happy to have a rare visitor. Another panel shows two jellyfish merrily swimming through space. On Eaton Street towards Jastram Street, a tiny red hermit crab is shown envisioning a big, chrome shell with integrated lighting, mechanical legs, and loudspeakers. Look further up, and you’ll see the message: “DREAM BIG.” 

Anyone can dream big, but you need to put in the work if you want to achieve something. On Eaton Street, towards the corner of Nelson, three arctic terns carry a blue whale past the sunset. The sun itself peeks from behind a cloud to wonder at their accomplishment. Above this scene, another panel reads “WORK HARD.” 

These two phrases distill the broad idea of achievement into two simple phrases intended to inspire the elementary school students as they enter the building each morning. This mural is dedicated to the young students and all of their biggest dreams.

Lords of Night

site: private residence | private commission | seekonk ma 2023

This bespoke mural was created for a new observatory in the client’s home. The mural is painted on the wall of the cylindrical entryway to the observatory. Inspired by time spent in Mexico and familial connections to NASA, the client requested a Mesoamerican themed mural with related iconography and environmental cues. 

The client and his wife are both physicians, so I began by learning what plants were used for medicinal purposes by the Maya, specifically those that can be found in Yucatan. Plants that I selected for inclusion are copal, morning glory, agave, and jimson weed. For the iconography, I selected the Lords of Night, a set of 9 glyphs that represent the lords that are said to rule over each night in a never-ending cycle of nine.

Bloodletting rituals were a way of making an offering to or speaking to the gods. It was captured in artwork and in the tools used for drawing blood. Jade was a common material for these ritual items, as well as for adornment. To reference this practice, I rendered the glyphs as if they are made of glowing jade. In addition to the glowing jade glyphs, the scene is illuminated by fireflies and waves of bioluminescent plankton, both of which can be found in Mexico. These animals in this context mimic the stars and evoke the nighttime skies.

401: After Winter Must Come Spring

SITE: WEYBOSSET ST | Organizer: THE AVENUE CONCEPT | Providence RI 2022

This design of five panels consists of a flower motif with graphic elements of smoke and flames. Two panels on each side depicting local flowers flank a center panel making the simple declaration “401.” This unapologetically feminine composition of large-scale flowers and vibrant palette of purple, pink, and orange, is emphasized by its contrast to the linear and gray brick and concrete buildings of Weybosset Street. The flames and smoke are artificially colored to separate their meaning from the destructive energy of literal fires. The patterns are used as a motif to illustrate a generative power.

When I was young, my dad worked as a horticulturist. I had the privilege of growing up with a yard and a garden and learning about the local flowers. Now every time I see daffodils I know the end of winter is here and spring is around the corner. Most of the world had our lives on hold for the past two years. 2022 brings the promise of new beginnings, a re-emergence from our cocoons and re-engagement with life. We are on the cusp of a renaissance– a collective spring.

 Other projects

commissions, public art, and just for fun