A Mural With A Message

 While making my way down Bleecker street on a sunny Saturday afternoon, I came across this exquisite mural. Located on the walls of the under-constructed Bayard Condict Building, an office building known for its lavish and radical architecture, rests this unknown and powerful work of art. It is difficult not to notice the bright and lively colors that pop from this mural when walking through the dark and dreary sidewalk burdened with construction. Although its location isn't ideal, I was still drawn to the powerful illustrative composition, as well as it’s main didactic, pacifistic message.

The foreground of the mural displays four people of different gender and race, joining hands with one another. Their mouths are agape, almost as if they are chanting a message in harmonious unison. The expression on their faces, as well as the people who stand together in the background, vary, but all don a passionate look. In addition, the foreground also displays numerous guns and other violent weapons, which are discarded and piled up in front of the four main figures. Furthermore, in the middle ground of the mural a tree with flowers growing off its branches is shown. In between these delicate branches a bright banner with an excerpt of writing is shown. The excerpt reads: “There is no way to peace; peace is the way”- A.J Muste”. Ultimately, the socially-charged quote from pacifist-movement member A.J Muste, the modern day references to gun-violence, and the powerful use of compositional design helps this mural propagate a message of peaceful unity of all peoples regardless of any physical, racial or even religious aspect they may possess. In addition, the closeness and the overlapping of the bodies presented within the picture can be perceived as a stylistic symbol to show how people should join together and love one another, rather than express feelings of contempt or hate towards one another. 

This message for peace is something very powerful and considering the events taking place now a days, is probably needed. This mural can be recognized as a symbol to end gun-violence and can be perceived as a message for all peoples to find harmony with one another. This mural can be perceived through a religious lens since it somewhat mirrors the teachings found within Joshua Liebman’s book. Throughout his book, Liebman lays out a quick fix on how all people can find their own inner spiritual and religious peace. In order to find this inner peace, Liebman prescribes that America and its people who are not beholden to a monarchial system of reliance, should embrace the self-reliance and pluralism of their country while also understanding that God is not a tyrannical, omnipotent punisher in the sky. Rather, God is a force of love which people should coexist with in an harmonious balance. Like Liebman’s self-help book, the mural echoes and advocates a similar harmonious-oriented solution for change. This solution that the mural promotes is one filled with a pluralistic and multiculturalist environment that includes a symbiotic relational coexistence of people, as well as a strong passionate bond, like the relationship advocates with God. Rather here, the religion is not one with just having a close relationship to God, but also one possessing a powerful and congenial connection with all those who surround you.