Section-1 Art Park
I founded Section1 in September 2012 while attending a dual masters program at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and Maryland Institute College of Art. The Design Leadership program equipped me with the skills to apply creative processes in a business setting while focusing on social value creation. As an independent thesis project, I saw an opportunity to transform an abandoned 3.5-acre site into an unprecedented urban art park and utilize design thinking to re-imagine public space.
History
Upon graduation, I received $10,000 in seed funding from Maryland Institute College of Art's LAB Award, which supported projects aimed at encouraging local talent to use the city as a canvas for creative vision. This seed funding was used to establish Section1 Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to using urban art to enrich people's lives.
In March 2016, I partnered with Volunteering Untapped to organize a cleanup effort of the Section1 Urban Art Park site. With the support of over 300 volunteers, we were able to remove over 40,000 lbs of trash, bringing the site to life.
Despite the park not being built, as the Executive Director of the Non-Profit, I was able to leave a lasting legacy in the Baltimore arts community. I funded the development of The Creative Labs and several other art organizations, including Believe in Music.
Impact
Section1 also provided a platform for aspiring artists, organizing dozens of mural jams and facilitating cultural exchange programs with street art organizations such as Buenos Aries Street Art and Urban Walls Brazil. We produced over 200 mural panels and nearly 1 million square feet of public art, providing a platform for artists to reach their audience.
The impact of our work was significant, with 360 art activations, 5,960 artist reach, and an economic impact of $3.4 million, as calculated using the Arts & Economic Prosperity Calculator provided by Americans for the Arts.
In conclusion, Section1 was a remarkable example of how design thinking and community engagement could transform an abandoned space into a thriving urban art park, enriching lives and boosting the local economy.
Gallery
