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Find Your Wings with Middlebury Community Music Center (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public art installations
└ Public art installations
To make Middlebury's downtown more vibrant, Find Your Wings launched a public art initiative to increase community engagement. The organization engaged local artists who worked with residents to create eight sets of wings. To include as many community members as possible, they distributed art kits to homebound residents, schools and senior living facilities, who sent their creations back to the artists. Each set of wings is unique -- one consists of painted plywood feathers, another parrots a monarch butterfly's wings, while a third turns random household objects into musical instruments for passersby to strike. Installed throughout downtown, the installations invite pedestrians to pose and snap selfies. Project organizers say the placemaking effort is meant to foster a sense of belonging and boost the local economy.
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See More Projects Like This One
Los Angeles, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: The Thai Community Development Center sought to beautify Thailand Plaza, a commercial center along Hollywood Boulevard in Thai Town. The more than 1,000 square feet of metal garage doors making up the plaza's faade were a target for graffiti. To solve this, the Center commissioned two artists to replace the tags with vibrant murals illustrating Thai culture. They also repainted the gates of the nearby Brahmin Shrine in deep black and gold. By doing this, project organizers hope to deter future vandalism in the area, inspire a sense of community and draw new visitors to Thai Town. Locals hailed the project during a celebration marking the district's 20th anniversary.
Upper Darby, PA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: A new mural brought renewed activity and improved safety to Upper Darby Township's downtown. Volunteers -- including older adults, artists, students and art teachers -- designed and created the 135-foot mural, which is located in a breezeway connecting a parking lot to retail and entertainment options. Its design incorporates greetings in 60 languages -- reflecting community members' native tongues -- and older adults' input helped ensure its imagery reflected the region's history. Project organizers also added new lighting and seating to the breezeway. Community response has been positive. "I really enjoy the walk from the garage to the office building," one local worker said. "It is cleaner and well-lit. The colorful mural provides an uplifting view and I believe that it encourages people to care a bit more about the area...There is such diversity in culture here." Going forward, the Township plans to use the site for small pop-up events, such as a Music at the Mural performance.
Camden, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: To replace dilapidated seating options in Camden's historic downtown, Black Belt Treasures Cultural Arts Center organized the Sharing Our Stories One Bench at a Time project. The effort involved purchasing, decorating and installing 11 mosaic benches around the Wilcox County Courthouse. Led by local mosaic artist Linda Munoz, residents aged 4 to 80 shared their stories, came up with themes and designs and cut and laid colorful glass onto concrete seats. The benches -- which feature imagery related to life in Camden -- represent more than just a beautiful place to sit. Project organizers say the new benches brought the community together and strengthened Camden's sense of civic pride.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Cornwall, VT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: This project will create an ADA-compliant walking path in a new recreation area, providing direct access to amenities like benches, exercise stations, pickleball/tennis courts, a picnic pavilion, and a pollinator garden.
Lake Placid, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Developing projects based on residents' priorities
Description: In the Adirondacks, vital stories risked fading from memory, leaving older adults isolated and younger generations disconnected. John Brown Lives! launched the Freedom Story Project, collecting dozens of narratives, mostly from people age 50-plus. The group installed a Story Shed at John Brown Farm for on-site recordings, created podcasts and launched a website to share stories widely. Educators are now using these narratives to foster civic dialogue and empathy. "The recognition that comes with the telling of one's story can be very validating and healing... the quiet power of these stories can provide a non-threatening opportunity to grow socially and emotionally," said the executive director.
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