COMMUNITY WALL: WORKSHOP WITH OANA MARIA POP AND ZUZANNA ODOLCZYK

Anyone passing by Sandstraße 64 is greeted by a cheerful and colorful forest. On September 27 and 28, 2023, around 20 children between the ages of 4 and 6, under the guidance of artists Oana Maria Pop and Zuzanna Odolczyk, created a tunnel wall that brightens the day of every passerby. Both artists, who hail from Romania and Poland, are currently living and working in Berlin for a year as fellows of the Fresh A.I.R. residency program #8.

On the morning of September 27, about 10 excited children from the Wunderblume daycare center ran into the Sandstraße courtyard. After a brief workout on the playground, they eagerly got started, quickly giving shape to the forest on the tunnel wall. The first curious onlookers were not long in coming, with some neighborhood children jumping right into the color frenzy. Even some parents enthusiastically took up their paintbrushes.

The second daycare group on September 28 was already excited upon arrival, since they had of course already heard a lot from the first group. In pairs, the children very carefully painted the last plants and bushes of the forest. With big smiles and colored hands, the children said goodbye to the artists, and immediately asked when they could paint the next wall.

The project for the new Community Walls already began in mid-July, when the artists painted a tunnel on Blasewitzer Ring with a youth club. In accordance with the laws of nature, the forest is now spreading wildly over other walls.

We were particularly pleased with the commitment and stamina of the children, some of whom would have loved to continue painting into the night.