"Gardening the Community," Ryan Murray, 2021

Ryan created this mural to celebrate Gardening The Community, a food justice organization engaged in youth development, urban agriculture, and sustainable living to build healthy and equitable communities. GTC operates a training program created for youth from around the Mason Square neighborhood and beyond to grow fruits and vegetables on vacant and abandoned lots. Youth receive a stipend and are taught principles of urban sustainable living and urban agriculture. The food that is grown is sold at the Walnut Street Community Farm Store, the Mason Square Farmers Market, local restaurants, and bodegas. Youth also bring food home to their families. To encourage a more sustainable lifestyle, all produce is delivered to market and stores with bikes and heavy-duty bike trailers to reduce our carbon footprint and build healthy lifestyle choices.

Ryan received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Carnegie Mellon University in 2014 and is currently located in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he does freelance graphic design and paints overused vinyl records. He is a graduate of the Community Mural Institute and engaged dozens of neighborhood residents in the painting of this mural. This mural was partially painted using the GoodSpace Method of community-engaged mural making. Learn more about GoodSpace Murals here.

IG: @rywandojones

This mural is located at 1106 State St