PS/MS 34: The Dreamer, Dream Walls 3.0

Blame it on Jonathan. Or credit him. He started it.

Twenty years ago, Jonathan dreamed that if he could teach math at PS/MS 34, more students and families could break free from poverty. He had already been tutoring students from the school since 1996 at the Generation Xcel youth center he co-founded across the street as a teen. If he could start teaching inside the school, fewer kids would hate it, more would “Xcel” at it and eventually qualify for higher paying jobs. He applied to become a NYC Teaching Fellow in 2005, and the school hired him to teach math and coach basketball beginning in 2006. In that first year, he instigated the Dream Walls murals in the schoolyard. Within three years, the school earned an A-rating and the principal credited the math department with leading the turnaround. By 2014, Xcel had evolved into Thrive Collective. 700+ murals later, Jonathan will begin his twentieth year teaching at PS/MS 34 this fall.

This year we repainted the Dream Walls for the third time. Artists Toofly and Lorena Barrezueta Carlo returned from the original lineup, along with Christian Bachez and Kadeem Phillip who led the project as teaching artists. Lorena’s mural, “The Doer,” is our 700th mural since Jonathan’s dream started it all.

Toofly’s Artist Statement

Rain or shine, I paint a couple of murals in the spring for @nycthrive. Some downtown, some uptown, some in the Bronx, some in Brooklyn, some in Queens. I’ve lost count of how many I’ve done … I don’t get a chance to incorporate what I do on the street much, so this gives me an opportunity to pull ­in some of my graphic design work. It makes those school playgrounds, and hallways come alive when we add color and pop to grey concrete, or prison style structures. Our last project this season took place at PS 34 in the Lower East Side. It was a rainy week but we finished at deadline. These walls are at a special location for various reasons + the third time I return to paint a character on this very wall since 2007.

I was asked to design 3 columns this year in addition to the character wall. It was an opportunity to do some lettering work, but was asked to stay away from the “graffiti style” of past years. … What a bummer that was, but something that is no longer a surprise. In return I pulled out my handstylez (influenced by graff) and made it work.

Fun Fact:

This playground project started with graffiti art by LASE, DURO, and a few other artists. “Respect” ended up on the same column created back in 2007 by coincidence. The universe works in mysterious ways — long story short, a lot jumped off in the mid 2000’s. If you know, you know. LASE was one of those creative individuals that curated some really dope, graffiti/street art productions, exhibitions, live art, brand collaborations, print, toys, products, and community art projects back then.

I wanted to share the throwback moment + give them all a shout.

Cheers to the beginning of the Thrive Collective … 700+ murals later ⚡⚡⚡

Scroll through Toofly’s Instagram post below to see related photos and media from the project. See her previous Dream Walls murals from 2007 and 2017.

Christian Bachez’s Artist Statement

Dream Walls 3.0!

This wall is painted at P.S. 34 FDR School and is my first public mural in NYC 🌟 I worked with students, @thrivenyc and the Principal at the school to come up with the design. The design was largely based on the previous Dreams Walls painted on the same walls.

Shoutout @lifeofdeem @cera.bella Sydney and Lysa for the painting assist

Shoutout my wall neighbor @toofly_nyc for killin’ it!

This one’s a special one as I’m from the neighborhood and remember passing by the earlier iterations of these walls way back in the day. Cool full circle moment to come back and be a part of it!

Lorena Barrezueta Carlo’s Artist Statement

“The Doer” mural design includes a quote by Teddy Roosevelt, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” The style draws inspiration from Mary Blair, who is well known for her work with Disney.

See Lorena’s previous Dream Walls murals from 2007 and 2017.