Juniper Creative Arts large scale indoor mural in The Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center
Artist Statement
"The concept of our design includes notable BIPOC revolutionaries, artists, activists, and scholars from the past 200 years–those who came before us, who have given us the blueprint for revolution and social change, whose work and contributions to racial and social justice continues to guide us, and current change agents, today and into the future". - Juniper Creative Arts
Juniper Creative Arts is a Black and Dominican family collective that facilitates community mural projects with colleges and universities, K-12 schools, and community-based organizations. They are nationally recognized muralists, facilitators, and educators with a mission-driven practice of creating art that both involves and celebrates underrepresented communities. They use visual art and murals to lift up the voices, images, and people that are often left in the margins. Their work and vibe is inspired by their cultural and spiritual lineages, urban art, Hip-Hop culture, the mystical, and the natural world. They believe in the power of the arts to heal, bring people together, build community, create dialogue, and celebrate Black, Indigenous, People of color lives and stories.
About the Artists
Juniper Creative Arts consists of creative director and concept artist Jennifer Herrera Condry, mural artist and illustrator Will Kasso Condry, and visual artist and photographer Alexa Herrera Condry.
Jennifer Herrera Condry
Born and raised in Harlem, New York, Jennifer is the daughter of Dominican immigrants. She worked for 22 years as a student affairs professional with a focus on multicultural student success before leaving to focus on building Juniper Creative Arts. During her 18 year tenure at Middlebury College, Jennifer led efforts for the retention and care of college students from marginalized identities and developed co-curricular programs to support student success, identity development and sense of belonging. She is a 200-hour certified Hatha Yoga practitioner, an energy worker with Level 3 certification in Healing Touch and Level 2 certification in the Usui System of Reiki Healing, and a spiritual herbalist. She holds an M.A. in Spanish linguistics from the Middlebury Language Schools and a B.F.A in art history and business from Hunter College. She facilitates creative placemaking to foster community-building, personal expression, and healing.
Will Kasso Condry
Born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey, Will Kasso is a renowned visual artist, graffiti scholar, and educator. Kasso studied fine art and illustration at The College of New Jersey as a first-generation college student. He furthered his education in the art of aerosol painting with the mentorship of legendary graffiti artist Daniel “POSE 2” Hopkins. Kasso refined his artistry in large-scale mural production under the tutelage of Dave McShane at Mural Arts Philadelphia. He has taught courses on the origins and politics of Graffiti and Street Art and the elements of Hip-Hop at Middlebury College. For over 20 years, Will’s public art initiatives and civic engagement have helped vulnerable and fractured communities come together to creatively solve issues that affect their neighborhoods and everyday lives. Kasso is a visionary and Afro-futuristic artist well-known for his use of bold color and layers. Additionally, his life’s work centers on using mural arts as a vehicle for community-building, activism, beautification, and healing.
Alexa Herrera Condry
Alexa is a recent graduate of the University of Vermont, where she received a B.A. in studio art and computer science. She is an illustrator, photographer, and web designer; and is currently apprenticing under Will Kasso in aerosol painting and mural arts. Alexa is an energy worker trained in meridian healing. She has a Level 3 certification in Healing Touch, and is a spiritual herbalist. Alexa is the lead art-making facilitator for K-5 community mural projects.
Main Street Landing is immensely honored to partner with Juniper Creative Arts to create a beautiful and meaningful work of art which will elevate and enrich our Performing Arts Center for many years to come. Please visit their website, here, for more information and to see their prior works. Stay tuned to our social media channels and website for updates on this exciting project!