The Day Comes to an End, Justice Does Not
“The Day Comes to an End, Justice Does Not," CAW's latest mural for Bronx County Family Court
CAW Youth Apprentices Unveil Fifth Mural for Bronx County Family Court
CAW Youth Apprentice Elizabeth Park works on the face of Lady Justice
Creative Art Works’ relationship with NY State Family Court began in 2011 when CAW Youth Apprentices (YAs) created public art for a waiting room in New York County Family Court. This led to three more works of public art at that location, each one more ambitious than the last. In 2018, our Youth Apprentices painted the first of five works of large-scale public art for Bronx County Family Court. The most recent is “The Day Comes to and End, Justice Does Not.”
The mural was unveiled in a packed courtroom on Wednesday, August 16th. In attendance were judges, clerks, bailiffs, and Family Court staff, including Supervising Judge Sarah P. Cooper, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives Edwina G. Richardson-Mendelson, Chief Clerk Eugene Hurley, and First Deputy Chief Clerk Ruth Whalen. Twenty YAs and their Teaching Artists took turns presenting the mural, discussing its imagery, and explaining their process. All three judges offered remarks that celebrated our young people and their grand accomplishment.
Clerk of Court Ruth Whalen
CAW Executive Director Karen Jolicoeur and Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives Edwina G. Richardson-Mendelson.
“I want to start with a quote from Supreme Court Justice and Bronx native Sonia Sotomayor: ‘As you discover what strength you can draw from your community, look outward as well as inward. Build bridges instead of walls.’ This mural is a bridge that links our stories together. Your mural depicts the range of emotions from sadness on one end to joy on the other. The bridge between sadness and joy is communication. At Bronx Family Court, we want to ensure that all families are heard and that all voices are amplified. Your voices are now a piece of history that will impact everyone that sees it.”
Supervising Judge Sarah P. Cooper
The Bronx County Family Court Youth Apprentices and their Teaching Artists. Left to right: Red, Vincent Wu, Sulaiman Barrie, Angie Raharijao, Johanna Omesuh, Teaching Artist Assistant-in-Training Stephanie Diaz, Betty Lee, Neron Simpson, Michelle Chen, James Foster, Kiah Codrington, Teaching Artist Will Watson, Raven Garay, Maximiliana McEwen, Elizabeth Park, Shereika Nelson, Rafayet Hossain, Merybeth Nunez, Elijah Sanders, Teaching Artist Farah Mohammed, JJ Rodriguez, Richard Flores.
Detail from the mural
This mural centers The Bronx County Family Court within the greater Bronx community. It captures the complexity of human emotions in reference to the proceedings and outcomes of The Court, which serves as a mediator in issues that affect the foundation of families. Foundation is often a physical home, but it can be non-material. The figures being comforted in the far left of the painting lay claim to the importance of being heard and validated. Lady Justice in her stature lends an open ear to the concerns of the people.
The courthouse is placed in the center of the painting and provides a bridge between Lady Justice and the rest of the Bronx community. The courthouse serves the community with the same principles Lady Justice upholds: fairness, justice, and equity. The mural dramatizes many different stages of an individual's journey while going through a court case. It focuses on the opportunity and the hope for better days. The people depicted in this mural are from all walks of life, facing many challenges while also gaining the support they need. At the far right is a mural-within-the-mural with Justice gesturing towards the light at the end of the tunnel.
Youth Apprentices Discuss the Mural
Since a central image of this mural is Lady Justice listening to the people, we thought we would listen to just a few of the people who designed and painted this work of art and hear their thoughts on their experiences as Youth Apprentices, the meaning of the imagery, the impact their work will have on visitors to The Court.
Elijah Sanders is a junior in high school who enjoys anime, UFC, and spending time with his family. His goal in joining Creative Art Works this summer was to expand his love for art and creating and to have a memorable first job experience where he could meet new and creative people.
“I’ve been to Bronx Family Court so many times growing up. When I first went there, the walls were bare—it felt like a jail cell almost. You feel scared. I think now that the walls are more colorful it feels warmer and kids will probably feel a little more safe.”
Elijah Sanders
Elizabeth Park
Elizabeth Park is a college student studying social sciences, but she has always had a love of painting. She was responsible for rendering the face of Lady Liberty.
“We wanted to show a shift in mood from distress to happiness. On the left side, there are people crying and upset. Lady Justice is listening to those people in the courthouse. On the right side, we see happy people playing in the playground with their families.”
Originally from Florida, Johanna Omesuh now plays viola at Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music. She has a passion for all sorts of arts, including drawing and music. She believes that joining Creative Art Works gave her access to experiences and opportunities that made for an amazing first job experience.
“I think the mural’s focus on family and reunification will bring comfort to the viewer. I think that once they see it they will feel more at ease and maybe it will take their minds off negative thoughts.”
Johanna Omesuh
Sulaiman Barrie
Sulaiman Barrie was born in West Africa and raised in New York City. He is a junior at Queens College, majoring in English and Anthropology. He enjoys reading, writing, and walking. In his free time, Sulaiman is working on his upcoming novel, which is based on the Industrial Revolution and power conflicts. This was Sulaiman’s first job. He wants to expand his creative skills and build work experience that he can apply to jobs that require thinking outside the box.
“I think Lady Justice is listening to the people and hearing their conversations rather than looking at how they are dressed, because sometimes you have to listen to their stories before you can judge people.”
Read bios by all the Youth Apprentices in the commemorative brochure on ISSUU.
Our People
Bronx Family Court Team
Will Watson, Teaching Artist
Farah Mohammed, Teaching Artist
Stephanie Diaz, Teaching Artist Assistant-in-Training
Donna Manganello, Program Manager
Staff
Karen Jolicoeur, Executive Director
Ellen Seltzer, Director of Finance and Administration
Ivory Nunez-Medrano, Program Manager | Teaching and Learning
Donna Manganello, Program Manager
Riki Sabel, Program Manager
Madeline De Leon, Program Associate
Clair Vogel, Development Manager
Scott Lucas, Marketing & Communications Manager
Jill Goldstein, Office Manager
Board of Directors
Brian Ricklin, President
Andrew D. Levin, Chairman
Steven Soutendijk, Treasurer
Julia Sanabria, Secretary
Mosely Chaszar
Neil Goldmacher
Gail Holcomb
Cary Levy
Angela Pennyfeather
Andrew Stern
Tiffany Theriault
Janet Woods
Our Thanks...
Creative Art Works’ Public Art Youth Employment program receives support from the Milton & Sally Avery Arts Foundation, the Leroy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation, the Find Your Light Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and the Department of Youth and Community Development, and the Office of the Manhattan Borough President.
