This mural project, organized by ClimateChangesArt in Gracia, Barcelona was part of a months-long conversion of a vacant lot into a community garden, performance space, and children’s outdoor education setting. Guerilla gardeners from the local community broke through the cracked concrete and planted beans, lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes and much more. A local preschool began to bring their students to the community garden, and the elderly residents of the area began to connect to the young planters – offering gardening advice from their years of experience. They were also excited to get involved. For many, gardening had been a big part of their long lives, but as Barcelona filled in, they were left with less and less spaces to grow things.

ClimateChangesArt swooped in to add some much needed color to the site. A few peeling graffiti remained but the community wanted something that better reflected the new function of the site. So, a proposal was made and accepted and a day was picked. The event was a HUGE success, inspiring new friendships and empowering new artists. It also led to the creation of some BEAUTIFUL art. There was so much enthusiasm that the art spilled out across the wall we had planned to paint, and covered the entire garden! Perhaps the most notable piece of work however, is a 40 foot eggplant – painted nearly 40 feet in the air!

Artist Kevin Buckland talks about the mural:

http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2009/02/24/gracia_garden_doc_2_-_murals_and_kids.mp3