Interactive Murals at Alternatives for Girls

After a successful first phase of creating an interactive mural in the bathroom at Alternatives for Girls, artist Daniel Cascardo is back to create several more abstract and black line paintings representing positive, happy, feel good imagery.  Our goal is to reach the maximum amount of funding to complete Phase Two and Phase Three of the interactive murals for Alternatives for Girls.  These phases include painting the hallway mural and art for AFG's outreach vehicles and/or a community mural in the adjacent park next to the AFG shelter.  Any additional money will cover the costs of supplies and labor for interactive murals at other locations for Alternative for Girls, like off-site houses or community parks, or used to fund other non-profit organization interactive murals in Detroit locations. 

Community members and ioby donors will be invited to participate in the mural painting at a community resource fair held at Alternatives for Girls.  The whole process will be video documented from start to finish, with the documentary being shared with the larger Detroit community after completion.

During the first phase, I met with the staff and participants of the shelter along with my camera crew and assistants.  We surveyed the walls, talked about design ideas, got an idea of the amount of people that will participate in the process and developed a timeline for production.  We were able to successfully paint the walls and stalls of the bathroom at Alternative for Girls, as seen in the photos above.

For the next phases, I will continue to create the black line imagery directly on the walls, panels, and/or vans.  The girls, along with community members from the Southwest Detroit neighborhood where the shelter is located, will be invited to add color, patterns and shapes to the black and white designs.  Finally, I will edit and complete the murals.  The video documentation will be used to promote the mission of Alternatives for Girls and raise awareness about the issue of homelessness amongst youth in Detroit and of the interactive mural making process. 

I want to share the inspiration, joy and happiness that people experience when doing my interactive murals to those who don’t have the opportunity or financial means.