On September 21, 2015 DAMA director Sharon Kilfoy joined Edgewood College Professor of Art History Melanie Herzog, Edgewood students, DAMA lead artist Emida Roller, and visiting artists from China and Egypt for a tour of Madison murals.
Traversing Madison's south and east sides, Kilfoy's voyage examined murals at Omega School, Centro Hispano, the Madison Labor Temple, the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, and the Social Justice Center with brief looks at Georgia O'Keefe Middle School, Mother Fool's Coffeehouse, and Plan B.
Discussing both painting techniques and community messages, Kilfoy explored Madison's rich history of murals and the people and ideas behind the city's striking visual displays.
A prominent figure in the Willy Street neighborhood's history of art and activism, Kilfoy spoke passionately about the series of artworks at the Social Justice Center located at 1202 Williamson St.
On its wall facing Few St., the Social Justice Center presents a mural showcasing past neighborhood figures that shaped Willy Street's creative and socially-engaged community. Some of the people and institutions represented are Nature's Bakery, WORT (89.9 FM), and artists and songwriters Peter and Lou Berryman.
The newest addition to the Social Justice center will cover the building's back wall. Its painting was prompted by the death of Willy Street resident Tony Robinson and will depict the lives of of Robinson and other young people from the neighborhood who lost their lives to violence.
"The mural itself will be a peaceful celebration of lives," explains Kilfoy. "This mural, I feel, is one of the most important I've been associated with."
The new Social Justice Center mural will be painted Friday, September 25 through Sunday, September 27. People are encouraged to stop by and help!
