A Mandala of Hands
Neighborhood Mural Brings People Together Around Their Commonalities
The Handala design won the commission that would be the welcome mural for Clarke Square in Milwaukee. It is a combination of two of the Artist’s favorite amazing things, the Human Hand and Mandalas. Throughout human history, culture, and in every environment on Earth Mandalas have been lovingly created. Hands are the extension of our hearts carrying out our work, touch, play and creating art. Fusing these two as symbols in the Handala both honored and inspired the neighbors in the Clarke Square neighborhood. This was a community inclusive project.
At a neighborhood festival hand portraits were taken of people of all sizes & age. Then Jennifer painted hand portraits in oil, captured the images and arranged them digitally into a n elaborate mandala- the Handala emerged. This was printed on dibond, installed and the rest of the mural was painted around it. On the day of the public celebration children from the area adhered mirror ‘seeds’ she hand cut around the centerpiece to symbolize the effect our actions have on our environment. To plant the ‘seed’ that what we do matters and be vigilant that it is beautiful. The inauguration with the Mayor kicked off a new fresh path forward for all the residence and building owners.
“We all love and live through our hands. We have hands to give and to receive, to help and play, to touch and create, and to express. Every beautiful hand is completely unique, and all our efforts blend together in a display of our shared humanity. Clarke Square’s residents have so much in common with all of us, and being aware of this collective power is what I hope the Handala inspires.” – JE
