An Interview with ArtReach Orlando

ArtReach Orlando has hired a team of local artists to collaborate with youth from the surrounding community to create the mural. Young artists from the community will answer the question, "What do you love to create?” Their ideas and original artwork will serve as inspiration to the professional mural artists commissioned to bring the young artists’ vision to life. The youth will participate in a series of workshops alongside the artists, who will teach them how a mural is created from start to finish. 

Maureen Hudas, a master mural artist, will guide an all female team in the month-long endeavor. In order to celebrate the incredible talent from the local community, Maureen teamed up with two emerging Black artists, Delia Miller and Sabrina Dessalines. Along with centering youth's voices and perspectives, the project celebrates the talent of Black artists creating work with and for a historic Black neighborhood. The Arlington Arts Mural Project will culminate with an unveiling of the mural in a free community celebration which will include a fun-filled day of hands-on art activities and community-building for all ages.

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How did you get your start as a mural artist?

After studying art and design in college, my brother asked me to paint “a little something” in the nursery for my first born niece. Well, I went all out and from there kept getting more requests from other people. It eventually snowballed until I was working on projects at Disney and Universal. So I attribute my start as a mural artist to my first born niece, Maura, 24 years ago! “It’s all your fault!” I always joke with her.

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Your last project in Parramore was a powerful example of representation and an opportunity to showcase the amazing talents of Black artists and activists in our community. What impact did you see from that project? How did it impact you?

The impact from the project on Church St in Paramore was greater than I could imagine. I have always believed that art, in all its forms, is a conduit to unite people due to art’s ability to transcend our differences and reinforce our common humanity. Working with these women, both the artists and the activist, strengthened my desire to do more community art. To engage more with the people and artists in Orlando. Through mentoring on this mural I felt I was finally able to give back in my own small way and hopefully gave these younger artists some valuable experience and exposure. The earlier an artist can try something hands on and realize their own potential, the better. Also they got to see first hand the powerful impact of art on a community, simply by engaging with passerby’s from the neighborhood and hearing their feedback. Jennifer Desire, the subject of the mural, has since developed her own foundation, The Desire Foundation. After the completion of the mural, Interstruct Inc., who’s head quarters will be in that building, partnered with The Desire Foundation. They’ve now held several community events by the mural including Thanksgiving meals for the homeless, toy drives at Christmas, grocery give aways to families in the area and more. The mural is soon to be decommissioned as the old building is being renovated, but the community events will continue there and I couldn’t be happier about the lasting impact of this project.

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ArtReach Orlando is thrilled to partner with you in the creation of a mural for the Arts on Arlington Building where our community classroom is located. What do you hope this next project will accomplish outside of a physical transformation to the building?

I am equally thrilled to partner with ArtReach Orlando. Its an honor to expand my connections in the art world with such and admirable organization and the people who run it. Aside from the physical transformation to the building, my hope is that the mural energizes, inspires, and excites your students to create their own art before they even enter. I hope it sends them a message that ArtReach Orlando loves their students, believes that they matter, that they are supported in their goals and dreams and that the potential role of art in their lives can be limitless. I hope that other people in the community will also enjoy and be inspired by the beautification of the building as well and become more aware of your organization and it’s good work.

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ArtReach Orlando's mission is to transform the lives of youth through the healing process of art. We believe in the powerful intersection of the arts and justice. How do you connect to this mission? Do you believe artists have the ability to create change? How so?

The amazing healing process of art is something I’ve experienced first hand and so I connect greatly with the mission of ArtReach Orlando. When young people learn how to express themselves through art, they find their voice and can gain a sense of self empowerment. This empowerment can give artists the confidence to create art that speaks out for change, to bring attention to the wrongs in our world or attention to others fighting for justice and who are making our communities and world a better place. The process of making art is truly an exercise in self care. When you practice self care, you acknowledge your self worth and in that process your tolerance to be treated any less by anyone outside of yourself becomes very small. I think for this reason, most artists are hyper aware of the importance of justice. Not only for themselves, but for others who may not have found their voice. Sometimes art can feel like a super power and you just want to put it to use for the good of humanity. Whether just one person or one million people get the message, artists can plant seeds and create change in our world one piece of art at a time.

Thank you, Maureen!

This interview originally appeared at www.artreachorlando.org on August 10, 2021.