Make-A-Wish Mural Project: Macy's Believe Murals
The Make-A-Wish Mural Project is an ambitious, multichannel collaboration with LISA Project NYC to celebrate the resilience of wish kids and NYC! Together, we're bringing Make-A-Wish into our local neighborhoods through art to spread the power of a wish and celebrate the community that supports us.
This project is inspired by Rey Rosa, wish alum and co-founder of the LISA Project NYC. Rey has fought a critical illness since birth, and after growing up in the foster care system, he credits his wish with bringing color and imagination to his life. Rey’s wish to visit Walt Disney World® Resort at the age of 10 allowed him, in his words “To see color again.” Ultimately, it led him to becoming a street artist passionate about giving back to his community.
The Artists
Rey "The Drif" Rosa
Rey curated this project, and took part in painting as well! His wish helped him believe in creativity, passion and imagination - something he's trying to spread in his murals. "I would love for others to experience the color I see in this world," he said.
ChrisRWK:
"Everyone needs a chance to believe in something. Whether it's something small or something big it doesn't matter. Being a part of this project has been an amazing experience and helps show how much art can bring people together."
Ike Sanchez
Manhattan based artist Ike Sanchez, has been honing their skills in illustration for over 27 years. Being able to just create in various art forms is always a joyous experience. No matter how different or difficult the project, see it through but have fun. "It was a pleasure to be part of creating this inspiring mural!"
ZeroProductivity
"A two-time Olympic champion in the 100 meters for the U.S. once said, 'Keep your dreams alive. Understanding to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.' Never stop believing and always push forward to achieve your goals. It was an honor to be a part of this fun and inspiring mural."
instagram.com/zeroproductivity
Indie184
Artist Soraya Marquez aka Indie 184 is a native New Yorker, from Dominican descent, has been active in graffiti culture for over 2 decades. This is her second collaboration for the Make-A-Wish Mural Project, spreading color around NYC. "I hope this work will serve as a space for gathering, reflection, and create a unique experience," she said.
Jack Barker:
"I got inspiration for this mural from learning about the Believe campaign and the colors of Make-Wish and Macy’s. Watching Rey "TheDRiFs" video on paying it forward also gave me a lot of inspiration. In the mural, the Monstars are propelling the earth up to the stars. The earth is shaped like a star because I think earth can create more light and positivity than a star.
It means a lot to make something to support Make-A-Wish. I am also releasing 4 unique NFTs 1/1 to support Make-A-Wish. I have grown up seeing my Dad support Make-A-Wish and teaching us about what they do and how they change kids lives, so being able to give back in any way is so exciting. And doing something like creating a mural is so special because it lets you spread positivity to everyone who walks by and sees it."
Shakaira "Chickcasso" Sanjurjo
Shaki "Chickasso" Sanjurjo is a Latin-American artist of Jamaican decent, born and raised in the South Bronx, New York. Shaki's path as an artist can be traced back to her childhood and the artistic influence of both her father Rohan ‘Sixy’ Morris & her grandfather Eric ‘Monty’ Morris, who is a world-renowned musical artist. Her father always taught her that creativity is the foundation of survival and ultimately success. Growing up in the Bronx was all about survival and beating the odds, so art was her guardian angel during a rough and challenging childhood. She went on to study art through practical experience, learning through trial and error and self learning studying the works of Joan Cheri, Tim Okamura, O’Neil Scott, Sue Tsai, & muralist Rey ‘The Drif’ Rosa. While Shaki has been creating art in various forms throughout her life, it was not until 2020, after the Covid-19 global pandemic shutdown, that she started creating her art on a full-time basis. She incorporates layers in mixed media , acrylics, and oils, applied with brushes and sometimes dyeing natural canvas to create background and depth. Her work is energetic, passionate, empowering and uplifting. Sanjurjo's current body of work features paintings exploring objective notions of women's beauty and femininity. In a fairly short period of time, Sanjurjo is making an imprint in the art-world with her explosive abstract paintings, intricate portrait work, and her visual storytelling.
"The little girl in this mural is a representation of me as a little girl, and all the other little girls and boys who look into the heart of the big city and admire everything the future holds for them. There was always something about the city’s starry nights that would inspire me to dream. I would wish upon every star, whether it was for a Barbie dream house, an Easy Bake Oven, to be a doctor, a police officer or even just to have a happy childhood. I wanted to showcase how something so simple can mean so much to a child and the importance it has in the contribution to their development. I want this piece to inspire every child that sees it to have self belief and dream big."
Zimad:
“It's an honor to have worked with an organization such as Make-A-Wish whose good deeds have brought joy and happiness to so many lives throughout the years. I'm humbled and thank Make-A-Wish as well as Rey & The Lisa Project for including me.”
PhoebeNewYork:
“I am honored to have been included in the Believe campaign for Make-A-Wish and LISA Project this year. My piece is 'Believe in Yourself,' and since the campaign is Believe, I thought it was really well-suited. You truly need to believe first, in order to make anything happen, and from there anything is possible. So grateful to have had a chance to share this piece. Hopefully it will inspire people to believe more in themselves, and the things they stand for.”
