GREENBUSH MURAL

CRG - CHAPTER AT MADISON

Madison, WI | June, 2024 | Design & Production by Amy Zaremba

Many different stories arise from the generations who called Greenbush home; some stories vividly remembered and recorded and others nearly lost or forgotten. I approached this mural design eager to hear those stories and to learn about the struggles, the joys and the great heartbreaks that make up the rich history of this remarkable neighborhood. I am humbled as I attempt to create a mural that encourages others to uncover this history and preserve the communal memory as the world continues to move on and build new.

My goal with this piece is to respect the spirit of the old Bush, acknowledge the terrible way that much of it was lost, and honor the memories that have been proudly shared. I touch on a variety of buildings, trades and nostalgic scenes that I hope evoke the feelings of home and a once vibrant neighborhood. I reflect on just how much was destroyed and the tight knit community that was displaced during urban renewal by depicting places held dear and others less iconic - all in a way that allows for interpretation. Without addresses or labels some are recognizable and others may stand in for many places. In the same way, I include people who are representative of a time, a feeling and general memory rather than any specific individuals. I connect the indigenous populations to the land that was theirs long before the marsh was filled through the inclusion of a map of mounds and villages around Teejop. I honor the hopeful immigrants that came to Greenbush to work and provide, and I reach forward into the present and future of an area now rich with the diversity of students, migrants and families who are beginning their journeys on the footprint of a complicated past. The vibrant color throughout visually links concepts and storylines while it elicits feelings of joyful energy, passion for life, great loss, and optimism for the future. I hope that this mural will provoke conversation, inspire discovery and stir memories in ways that help us all learn from the past and appreciate the common values we share into the future.