The “Sizzling Summer Art Show” was at the Bronx River Arts Center, 4 pm on Friday, August 15th. On display was the Project for a Mixed-Media Installation, which was outside across the street from the Center at 1087 East Tremont Avenue. High School students have been working on the large Collective Mural for six weeks. The themes of the collective work are “Gentrification” and the “Death of Hip-Hop.” St. Aquinas High School student, Ms. Diamond Wynn, sees gentrification coming to the Bronx, with limited affordable housing. At the top of the Collective Mural, there are vultures flying down, representing speculators and franchises shutting down housing and small businesses, while the pigeons represent their prey. According to Diamond, “Hip-Hop started as a positive alternative to gang culture, but now it’s part of the same thing.” The teacher for the project, Abigail DeBille, gives students plenty of room to express themselves.
