In keeping with its mandate to raise awareness of the importance of environmental protection, the GraceKennedy Foundation (GKF) has partnered with the ICD Group, The Multicare Youth Foundation and Kingston Creative to create a new mural with an environmental theme in downtown Kingston.

Located on a wall bordering the Barnes Gully at the corner of South Camp Road and Harbour Street, the mural was conceptualised by Jamaican artist Charl Baker, who painted it with assistance from Rae Town resident Fabian White and his twin sons, Ricky and Richie.

“This is the first mural on the walls of a gully in downtown Kingston and it’s such a fitting location because it draws attention to one of the main ways the Kingston Harbour is being destroyed – the improper disposal of waste in gullies,” said Caroline Mahfood, CEO of GraceKennedy Foundation.

“The mural reminds us of the importance of protecting ‘Mother Earth’ for future generations, and one way we can do this is keeping gullies clean by disposing our garbage properly.”

It is a fitting message with Earth Day set for tomorrow (April 22).

Mahfood said the mural partnership with the ICD Group, The Multicare Youth Foundation, Kingston Creative and Baker was a positive experience for all involved, demonstrating the commitment of GraceKennedy and its partners to uplift downtown Kingston and improve the environmental health of the Kingston Harbour.

“We hope the mural will inspire Jamaicans to take better care of their environment and other businesses to partner to beautify downtown Kingston and return the Kingston Harbour to its former glory.”

KEY MESSAGE OF PROTECTING ENVIRONMENT

Tanaka Roberts, ceative director at ICD Group, said: “We were thrilled to partner with our Harbour Street neighbour, GraceKennedy, as well as the Kingston Creative team for this project, and especially honoured to have the mural placed on the exterior wall of our headquarters. This key message of protecting our environment, community and uplifting our youth is a long-standing commitment of ICD and our associated charity, The Multicare Youth Foundation.”

Roberts added: “We are always looking for ways to support the community so that residents not only feel proud to live here but will also show more respect for their environs. We’ve called downtown Kingston our home for decades and know that we share responsibility in preserving our community for future generations.”

Doris Gross, director and Art District Lead from Kingston Creative, commented on how pleased her organisation is to partner with sponsors who believe in the transformation of downtown Kingston. 

Since 2018, Kingston Creative has consistently empowered creatives and promotes art for social transformation.

The organisation’s signature project, ‘Paint the City’, has so far produced 63 murals.

“The aspect of connecting art with the urgent need to protect our environment is especially exciting,” said Gross. 

The next Kingston Creative virtual Artwalk, set for April 25, will highlight ‘Art and the Environment’ and can be viewed on the organisation’s YouTube channel.

READ: South Camp Road boasts new mural dedicated to environment