The Bankside Street Mural, Harehills, Leeds, UK (LS8 5AP)

The Bankside Street Mural is a celebration of the people who found the power 'to be the the change they wanted to see in the world' (as Gandhi said).

Ideas for the portraits came from dozens of conversations with people who live in Harehills, who had stopped to talk to us as we prepared the mural for painting.

Initially, we wanted to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday, so we started with him. But, as we asked people who else they saw as inspirational and/or relevant to their situation, and as residents of this dynamic community of Harehills, the mural grew as the conversations developed.

Many, many people shared their stories with us and lots joined in and helped us paint the 700ft x 12ft wall. Thanks to everyone that contributed (if your idea wasn't used here, rest assured, it was noted and will be used in future murals and public art events through future Harehills Festivals).

The mural was funded through the 'O2- Its My Community' fund, Connect and Unity Housing Associations and the Local Area Committee.

Special thanks must go to Marcus (Sparx) who did the three large portraits, Peanut and Anni who did the sketches, Mik Artistik who did Chaplin (and the original Obama), Raphael for Bob Marley, Tom and Aaron who did loads prepartion, Peanut for holding the whole thing together (we started in May 2008 and finished in May 2009!). Also thanks to all the children Ellie and Teo, Josh, Cara, Lutel and the loads of kids that stopped to talk to us.

The music is by the Special AKA (a rare version of 'Free Nelson Mandela' and the wonderful South African band 'Tananas').

The movie is meant to be a taste of what it is like to actually walk down this street. So - come to next year's festival and see it for yourself!

If you want to see stills of the various portraits and the words of these wise people go to http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/peteadmin/TheBanksideStreetMuralHarehillsLeedsL...

For more about the Festival go to the website www.HeartlandHarehills.org.uk

Thanks to Pat Regan's family. Thanks to Fiona for being there. Respect to all the artists!

PS If you don't like what we've done or the people we choose - find your own wall and do your own mural!

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

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• Harehills
• Leeds
• Celebrate
• Mandela
• King
• Marley
• Chaplin
• Pat
• Regan
• Gandhi
• Specials
• Tananas
• Dalai
• Lama
• Tibet
• Burma
• Obama
• Ang
• Sang
• Suu
• Ki
• Heartland
• Cohesion
• street
• art
• mural
• community
• Bankside
• Street

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