Replenish

2022 POP Design Student Seam members, led by Sunshine Durant, the guest artist known as Midwest Anthony, and Padzieski Gallery curator Sasha Corder, included: Maren Kerr, 18, of Allen Park; Dearborn residents Lauren Boyce, 15, Danya Jamalaldin, 17, Isabela Sierzputowski, 15, Gwen Zonca, 17, and Grace Schock, 16; Yasmin Gonzalez, 17, of Lincoln Park; and Eliana Pettigrew, 17, of Wyandotte.

"Team member Pettigrew said the mural’s background contains plants native to Michigan, to symbolize communities like the ones they live in.  “Everyone is different, but everyone is vibrant and beautiful and important to that community, and everyone gives back and works together,” she said. Pettigrew said the central figure of the mural, a girl, is a community nurturer. “She gives back to her community by replenishing the rest of the ecosystem with the water that’s coming down from the bowl,” she said. Pettigrew said the bowl represents a kintsugi bowl, the Japanese art of repairing pottery by bonding the broken pieces together with lacquer mixed with a powdered precious metal.  “We wanted that to represent the idea of something that is still useful to the community,” she said. “A vessel that was broken but doesn’t try to hide its faults, but celebrates them instead and is stronger for that.” - Sue Suchyta

This was supported supported by the Dearborn Community Fund and its sponsors. For more information on the POP program and the Dearborn Community Fund, go to dearborncommunityfund.org/community-projects/pockets-of-perception.