Timeless Rhythm, Groundswell’s first mosaic bench project, was created in partnership with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and the Hugh Gilroy Senior Center in the historic Weeksville area of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. The team designed four benches, adjacent to the Weeksville Time Train mural painted the previous summer by Groundswell youth. The design was inspired by the music enjoyed by the community’s senior citizens throughout their lives, including blues, gospel, and jazz. The youth artists experimented with color and contrast to create a sense of direction and movement. Different shapes present in the design are moved through space by the rhythm that the colors create. Throughout the project, the mural team focused on designing benches that would be comfortable to sit on as well as creating imagery that the senior citizens would like to see. The seniors were delighted with the benches and warmly expressed their gratitude. All attended a dedication ceremony, held in late spring to mark the enhancement of the senior center through the addition of the benches.
