MADONNA’S EARTH
selected piece for Waterbury Area Anti-Racism Coalition (WAARC) Community Mural Project in collaboration with Stowe Street Cafe & VT Peace & Justice Center.
May 2023 — August 2023
The Waterbury Area Anti-Racism Coalition (WAARC) worked with Vermont-based artist, Raphaella Brice, who has designed a mural inspired by WAARC’s mission: to create a community where every person can fully experience freedom, belonging, and love on a daily basis. To pursue this vision, WAARC is committed to challenging racism at all levels, including interpersonal racism (both conscious and unconscious acts) and systemic racism (our local institutions and policies), while actively creating spaces and events that promote learning, inclusion, and freedom dreaming.
WAARC reached their fundraising goal of $10,000 for the Waterbury Community Mural project which qualifies WAARC to receive an additional $20,000 Better Places grant from the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development (VDHCD). The collective dream of a community mural has become a reality thanks to the hardwork of the following WAARC volunteers:
Public Art Team: Chiyomi McKibbin, MK Monley, Faith Bieler, Rachel Cadwallader-Staub, Nicole Grenier
Selection Committee: Nicole Grenier, Chiyomi McKibbin, Maroni Minter, MK Monley, Ashley Laporte, Tessa Yip
Marketing and Events Committee: Faith Bieler, Rachel Cadwallader-Staub, Caitlin Frauton, Brenda Hartshorn, Alayna Howard, Jo-Anne Smith, Emily Wood
Steering Committee: Mal Culbertson, Life LeGeros, Ashley Laporte, Erin Hurley, Maroni Minter, Marlena Tucker-Fishman, Dan Levy
We extend a huge thank you to Nicole and John Grenier (owners of Stowe Street Cafe) for offering their building as a site for “Madonna’s Earth.” For two years, the WAARC Public Art Team has been working to find a location to realize their goal of uplifting the voices of BIPOC artists with public art. Nicole and John’s generosity made it possible to turn this goal into action.
We also extend gratitude to those who supported this project. Over 150 people contributed to the $10,000 fundraising effort and more than 30 area businesses contributed raffle items that raised over $1,000 toward that goal. Thank you!
ABOUT THE PIECE “MADONNA’S EARTH”
“Madonna’s Earth” is a depiction of influence from the purest divine feminine in human history – the Black Madonna. The Black Madonna is a mystagogue, known all over the world as a great mystery, a powerful archetype of transformation, and mother of Jesus Christ. The Black Madonna is both a living reality and an archetypal embodiment of human behavior – she is both paradox and ambiguity. Through her loving acceptance of all of us, and valuing the interrelatedness of all life, the Black Madonna brings us to wholeness & stillness. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, her presence reminds us of the sacredness of life, the need for care, nourishing the earth, and ourselves, as evolving sentient beings. Growing up Haitian-Catholic has been a huge influence in how I see & interact with all walks of life, which inspired this piece.
The piece illustrates her pure love through providing shelter to peoples of all walks of life, who are peacefully standing or playing under her dress – inspired by a Haitian Vodou story from the book, “Nan Domi” by Mimerose Beaubrun.
MEET THE LIGHTWORKERS BEHIND THE VEIL
-
Selected Artist | Creative Lead
raphaella brice | raph draws
-
Technical Creative Assistant
josephine bunnell
-
Project Manager | Volunteer Facilitator for WAARC Public Art Committee
MK monley
-
Co-Facilitator for WAARC Public Art Committee
chiyomi mckibbin
"Madonna's Earth" | Original Vector Illustration | May 2023
CREATING MADONNA’S EARTH
dive into the creation process of this beloved community piece
CREATING MADONNA’S EARTH
“Madonna’s Earth” was created with Adobe Fresco, a vector & raster graphics editor app developed for digital painting.
Articles & texts of the Black Madonna, reference photos, such as fun character design examples and Christian imagery, were explored and utilized to illustrate the creative vision for “Madonna’s Earth.”
This piece was intentionally created to fit the fundamental needs of the community — freedom, belonging, and love to embody what it feels like to be held by the sacred & divine feminine, The Black Madonna.
PRODUCING MADONNA’S EARTH
PREPPING, SANDING, SCALING, & SKETCHING
Selected Artist, raph, and Technical Creative Assistant, josephine bunnell, collaborated on scaling the full 8X24 ft mural dimension, split into 6 aluminum panels (8x4ft each).
The Technical Process:
peel off plastic wrap from each aluminum panel.
prep for paint application by sanding all 6 aluminum panels.
wipe aluminum residue off with alcohol to prep for sketching of “Madonna’s Earth” on all panels.
scale & split digital piece to fit 8x4 ft dimensions.
prep & scale projector to fit the dimensions of 8x4 ft panels.
sketch each part of mural piece onto 6 aluminum panels.
label each color block within piece in preparation for community painting & involvement.
“Madonna’s Earth" digitally scaled to fit 8x24ft mural project dimension; split to represent dimensions of the six 8x4ft panels
PREPPING WORKSPACE FOR COMMUNITY
Once the technical process was finished, all 6 panels were delivered to Maker’s Sphere (located across Ted’s Kar Kare) by Sammel Group in Waterbury, VT.
WAARC Members, MK Monley and Chiyomi McKibbin helped with administrative tasks, project management, organizing volunteer help, & prepping the makerspace for painting with necessary materials for painting “Madonna’s Earth.”
We extend gratitude to Maker’s Sphere for allowing the team to use their space. Thank you!
PAINTING MADONNA’S EARTH
Following the technical, community organizing, & project management process, WAARC & raph were ready to invite Waterbury residents to paint “Madonna’s Earth.” Let’s just say, folx were ecstatic to participate in the birthing process of this profound piece!
first day of painting Madonna’s Earth!
raph painting one of the center panels.
FINISHING MADONNA’S EARTH
Posca Markers were used to add small, finishing details. Aftwards, raph & josephine sealed all 6 aluminum panels with polycrylic and anti-graffiti coating.
Thank you Waterbury for helping midwife “Madonna’s Earth” to the physical realm.
SEALING THE MADONNA
