Ed Note: Not wanting to be hypocrites, we constantly encourage ourselves to be curious about what the world has to offer. We jump into new experiences feet first and tell you all about it, in hopes that you’ll do the same and discover something new. If you think you have a bit of street beater in you and would like to join us on our next Square Rootz Tries adventure, or want to recommend something we should try, hit us up: info[at]squarerootz.net.

I’m not an artist but I like to pretend I am. Every now and then, I get a whim and I’ll run to the art store Pearl for a supply binge. Feeling like a kid in a candy store (with about five dollars in my pocket) I buy up all the sale paint with the strange colors that nobody else wants. I buy a few pieces of canvas, paint brushes, cork boards, stencils, I mean anything on sale pretty much. I get home and for two whole days, I make as many weird pieces of art that my little heart desires. After I’ve awaken from my artistic euphoria and realize that the only thing I succeeded in creating was a mess, I sadly dump all my makings in a box and send them to the only person who could actually appreciate such ugliness, Mom.

Like I said, I’m not an artist but I like to pretend to be.

When I discovered Collective Imprints, I knew this was something I had to be a part of. Collective Imprints was created by artist, Michael Schawartz, and Executive Director of The Rotunda, Gina Renzi, in an effort to build community and remove art from it’s cozy bourgie nook and bring it back where it belongs- with the people. “I try to make this stuff, fine art, accessible to everybody,” explains Schwarts. “That’s the idea, to demystify it.” Gently led by Schwartz, the collective tapped into our inner artist. He gave brief instructions on lines, shapes, colors, textures and values. To help stimulate our left brains, the sessions were always accompanied by the musical stylings of Bill Fieger, who amazed us every week with his mastery of delightfully odd instruments.

People came from all parts of Philadelphia, young and old, black and white, Germantown to Wynnefield, came to the sessions to paint. And, the best part? You didn’t have to be an artist! Although, secretly I knew I was one… in my head at least. The first couple of weeks revolved around brainstorming. Everyone was given journals where we could draw or write whatever ideas we had for the piece. We all agreed that this piece should represent the Rotunda and West Philadelphia on a local level, Philadelphia as a whole, the nation and the world on a larger scale. It was about empowerment and community. “So you make all these new friends and you start to meet each other and while you’re doing the mural and you’re talking, you start to find out what they’re doing and what’s happening in their life,” explains Schwartz. “That’s where the community building happens. People start to become friends and hang out together, and the mural is evidence of that. That’s one of the best things that comes out of it.”

Writing our ideas on Post-it notes, we put them up on boards and attempted to find common links. People wrote things like: poetry, linguistics, colors, food, etc. After a while, common themes appeared: cultural fusions, the environment (local and global), activism and West Philadelphia music. Out of those themes came images.

We began by drawing in our journals. We drew whatever came to mind when we considered these powerful ideas of communities and art. What happened was magical. Although drawing individually, when we came together as a collective, we found that our paths of consciousness had come together as our drawings were wildly similar and focused on ideas that were obviously important to us all. In following weeks, people brought in images that represented what they felt about West Philadelphia and The Rotunda. We brought photos of puppet shows, parades, tunnels and workers, drummers and dancers.

The move from our journals to the panels was a scary one. Before that, it was okay for us to praise the whole “not an artist movement”, but that was cool as long as noone really had to see what we drew! On the panel, it was all you, and whatever you put on there would be there for everyone to see. Yikes. Armed with a pencil and a mighty eraser, we got down to business.

I decided to start drawing an idea I had with a couple of other women involved in the sessions. The idea began as a tree with various fists making up the trunk of the tree, and growing out into branches representing the growing movements and power that comes out of the Rotunda, and the community as a whole. Although initially intimidating, the vibe was perfect. “There’s a very supportive atmosphere, so even if someone is like, ‘Oh, I can’t do that’, it still connects to what maybe someone else is doing,” says participant and facilitator, Jodi Netzer. “The idea overrules the insecurities you may have about it.”

After a few weeks of drawing, it was time to bust out the paints. By this time, with the support of the collective, plunging into this next step wasn’t so scary. Mr. Schwartz taught us how to blend colors, to create dimensions and how to manipulate the forgiving wonder that is acrylic paint. After several weeks, community paint days and a very successful turn out for Martin Luther King Day of Service, the mural was near completion. The collective spent the last couple of months, making finishing touches, installing the piece and planning the unveiling.

Joining Collective Imprints was one of the more rewarding things I’ve done in the past year. Drawing and painting became for me what I always knew it would be - an expressive way to meditate and create. But, it also gave me something that I hadn’t expected- a tool of empowerment, a sense of confidence and a source of joy. The amazing people I met and the thrill of reverting back to grade school art class without guilt nor pressure, was a truly precious gift to me. Although I didn’t get to complete the project, I’m proud to have been a part of Collective Imprints. I had the opportunity to develop a skill and help create something, while serving the greater purpose of uniting a community.

Collective Imprints’ Unveiling: Thursday, May 1st 6-9 p.m. The Rotunda- 40th and Walnut