In November 2015 Carpenter Art Garden staff visited The Village of Arts and Humanities in Philadelphia. The Village began in 1986 as a park-building project by Philadelphia- based artist Lily Yeh. With a group of North Philadelphia residents, mostly children, she cleared a trash strewn vacant lot and began to build an art park that incorporated mosaic sculptures, murals and landscaping with trees and flowers. (http://barefootartists.org/projects/village/). These art parks served as an inspiration to start the Carpenter Art Garden in Memphis. While in Philadelphia, Carpenter Art Garden staff had the opportunity to meet the artist from The Village of Arts and Humanities and were moved by her story of public displays of art transforming a community. It was clear a similar project would be the Carpenter Art Garden's focus this summer. 

Carpenter Art Garden staff have consulted with two local mosaic artists, Janis Kimbrough and Suzy Hendrix, about the project and the proposed space. This project will include tile making days beginning in June in the local park where any community member is encouraged to participate. Tile making days will be held in Howze Park and will involve more community members outside of regular Art Garden participants. This is an opportunity for more people to have a role in creating this park for the community. 

This space is designed to improve the blighted space aesthetically and to honor and remember Binghampton community members who have passed away.This park will be our primary focus during the summer and will be a long term ongoing project for the Carpenter Art Garden through next year.