Transforming trash: making a mural with Artist Dan Colen
Sep 30, 2011

A student uses a mop as a paint brush as he works on a mural.

Barry, a participant in the Whitney's Youth Insights Leaders program, gives a discarded mop new life as a paintbrush for this mural project at the Details Guild Wall. Photograph by Cameron Johnson

A student uses a mop as a paint brush as he works on a mural.

On Friday, September 26, participants in the Whitney’s Youth Insights (YI) program were given a fantastic opportunity to meet artist Dan Colen and assist him in “defacing” his mural. The mural, located on the corner of 13th and Washington Streets in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, was painted with the phrase “OH GOD!” in large black text. The text was painted on a plain white background and almost seemed welcoming to graffiti artists. That said, Dan seemed a bit dejected as he noticed that no one had defaced the mural prior to our arrival.

Teens work on a black and white mural on storefronts.

Youth Insights staff prepare the mural site for an onslaught of color applied by teens. Photograph by Berry Stein

Teens work on a black and white mural on storefronts.

Teens were invited from all facets of YI—Leaders, Artists, Writers, and Contemporary Community. Each YI member was instructed to bring one piece of garbage, which we added to an existing pile of trash. Dan explained that each piece of trash had an interesting and unique texture, and they would serve as our paintbrushes for the day. He explained that he wanted to take overlooked objects that were around us and give them new life in an innovative recycling tactic, by using them in his work. We were encouraged to cover the text and experiment with sticking pieces of trash to the wall by coating them in paint or glue. We used pieces of bubble wrap, old shoes, wire hangers, and other trash items to make textural brush strokes on the mural.

  • A student uses bubble wrap to create a mural on a building.

    YI Leader Eloise gets the painting process started with a bit of retrieved bubble wrap. Photograph by Berry Stein

  • Students use glue and paint to make art on the side of building.

    Members of YI Artists, Writers, and Leaders work together to adhere a variety of materials to the mural with glue and paint. Photograph by Cameron Johnson

  • A student with a painted face helps paint a building wall.

    YI Leaders Zoe and Evelin add to the controlled, painterly chaos at the Details Guild Wall. Photograph by Cameron Johnson

  • Students splatter paint in all different colors on a wall.

    YI participants dive into the mural project using hands and found objects to apply color. Photograph by Berry Stein

  • Students clap as the artist looks on.

    Teens applaud themselves and artist Dan Colen as they wrap up the day. Photograph by Cameron Johnson

  • The artist poses with a group of teens in front of the final mural project.

    Artist Dan Colen poses with his collaborators, members of the Whitney's Youth Insights program, in front of their work. This series of collaborations between contemporary artists and teens is made possible by a partnership with the Details Guild Wall. Photograph by Cameron Johnson

The project was so enjoyable that it interested many who passed by. People stopped to admire and take photos of the artists at work, and we even attracted a few individuals who wanted to join in the fun. These individuals thought that the painting process was a public event, and approached us to help transform the mural. The final product was the complete opposite of the original mural, with a blend of colors and textures that were more remarkable than any of us could have ever imagined.

by Niki, Youth Insights Writer