Gestalt Community Schools, UrbanArt Commission and MATA partner to bring public art fixtures to Southeast Memphis!
Press Release
June 20, 2024 – Community partners Gestalt Community Schools, UrbanArt Commission, and MATA held a celebratory event to unveil four new covered bus shelters featuring vibrant, metal-fabricated art panels in Hickory Hill. This project, championed by local artist Brandon Gaia Marshall, stemmed from UAC’s Neighborhood Art Initiative. Hickory Hill residents collectively decided on an art installation to unite and uplift the community, the majority of whom are families whose children attend Gestalt’s three Hickory Hill schools: Power Center Academy Elementary, Middle, and High.
"I am proud to say this bus shelter enhancement is a true reflection of UAC’s mission to create opportunities for artists and communities to transform spaces through public art,” said Lakeisha Edwards, executive director of UrbanArt Commission. “Brandon Marshall's installation not only beautifies Hickory Hill but also captures the essence of the neighborhood by featuring real people who embody the culture and spirit of this vibrant community. This collaboration is a testament to the power of art in fostering pride and connection among residents."
Brandon Marshall was commissioned by UAC to build the unique art panels for each bus shelter. Having grown up in Memphis and being a dancer himself, Brandon knew the cultural significance of the Memphis Jookin dance style. Inspired one day by seeing a man dance while waiting for a bus, Brandon decided that depicting Jookin dancers would be the perfect fit for this project. He partnered with Hickory Hill resident and dancer Terrence Smith to recruit Jookin dancers from the neighborhood to model for the installations. Each of the four bus shelters features one of the Jookin dancers, showcasing the diversity and vibrancy of the community.
"It's been an honor to work with such a talented group of people with roots in Hickory Hill who are creating the cultural identity of our city,” said Marshall. “As Memphis Jookin continues to become more popular throughout the entire world, I hope that these works of art serve as a testament to the potential of our youth and a reminder of their greatness."
In addition to producing the art installations, which surround Power Center Academy Elementary, Middle, and High, Brandon spent several weeks at the high school, mentoring the art students and teaching them about how he has turned his passion for graffiti art and murals into a full-time career.
“Our team of educators at Gestalt is committed to developing the whole child, and while academic education is at the forefront, we also place a strong emphasis on the arts and creative expression,” said Yetta Lewis, founder and CEO of Gestalt Community Schools. “Through the tremendous support of our community partners, our high school scholars were able to receive unique visual arts field experiences that they’ll carry with them to and through graduation.”
Over 30 Hickory Hill community members attended the initial Neighborhood Art Initiative meeting to discuss their vision for this project. The community consensus was a desire for increased covered bus shelters that could be useful and beneficial for residents. Not only do these bus shelters bring unique cultural character to the neighborhood, but the coverings of each shelter also provide a sense of safety for residents as they wait for transportation.
“This collaboration celebrates community creativity, bringing vibrant, local art into our everyday surroundings, enhancing the experience for our riders and brightening their daily commutes,” said Bacarra Mauldin, interim CEO of MATA. “Together, we are transforming transit in the Mid-South."
For more information about this community project, visit UAC Hickory Hill Bus Shelters.
About Gestalt Community Schools:
In 2008, Power Center Academy opened its doors to 125 sixth-grade students. Power Center Academy and the community around it began to see early successes through increased achievement scores and the elimination of community blight. In 2011, Derwin Sisnett and Yetta Lewis founded Gestalt Community Schools to scale the work that began in 2008. Gestalt is now a network of K-12 college-preparatory charter schools in targeted Memphis communities with a mission to leverage community assets to empower citizens who will be college-ready, career-ready, and community-ready. For more information about the charter school network, visit Gestalt Community Schools.
About UrbanArt Commission:
Founded in 1997, UrbanArt Commission (UAC) is a non-profit organization committed to creating opportunities for artists and neighborhoods to connect and shape spaces through public art. UAC aspires for art to be integral to a thriving and equitable Memphis. For more information about UAC, visit UrbanArt Commission.
About MATA:
The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) is the public transportation provider for the Memphis area. As one of the largest transit operators in Tennessee, MATA transports customers in the City of Memphis and parts of Shelby County on fixed-route buses, paratransit vehicles, and vintage rail trolleys. For more information about MATA, visit MATA Transit.
We'll update this post with media coverage as we see more stories come through.
For more about this project and to watch the QR-code video, visit this link:
https://uacmem.org/projects/naihickoryhillbusshelters
