Syracuse University Honors Program

Zachary Ranieri and Samuel Chertock worked with the Syracuse Public Art Commission, a group which seeks to contribute to the public art on display in Syracuse.

Samuel explained that “the mural consists of a heavily-pixelated image of the Erie Canal, upon which we adhered and spraypainted QR codes (which link to Syracuse-area art institutions and community service organizations).” And Zachary described the effect of this project in this way:

“The project helped me to further understand art as a tool which can bring communities together. People would frequently stop by and ask what we were working on, and share their thoughts about Syracuse in our conversations. The excitement people expressed was not something I expected, and it helped me to realize how art can be a powerful catalyst for exploring our culture and folk tradition. Public art can spark conversations, reveal knowledge, and bring out a community’s values; it is much more than an aesthetic contribution to the city. People talked about how Syracuse has fallen on hard times, of their hopes for its future, and how they missed the past, knowledge shared much more freely due to the mural. I learned from the experience, and I like to think that many more will learn things as a result of this mural’s completion.”

Ahnia Young volunteers with Sunshine Horses, Inc, a local non-profit organization that strives to find horses who have left the racing world “Forever Homes.” Their mission also includes “helping people to realize their own potentials as they help these horses on their journeys. Through youth programs and adult volunteer programs, we draw upon the strengths each participant brings to the program, and seek to provide personal growth and enrichment. Many program participants face unique challenges of their own, and can empathize and bond with our horses in a special way as they help prepare them for adoption.”

Ahnia had this to say about her experience:

“At Sunshine horses, my goal is to help give the horses the best possible chance of becoming adopted. Many of the horses at Sunshine come from the race tracks, others have been neglected or no longer have an owner that can devote the amount of time and money needed to care for a horse. Many of the horses have not been ridden as pleasure horses, or have not been ridden in a long time. I have a somewhat varied experience working with horses, I spent about 10 years at a bareback therapeutic riding stable, where I learned to train horses safely and gently. I strive to help the horses at Sunshine learn ground manners, lounging, and how to be a riding horse. I try to alleviate any fears that they might have, and teach them to be a responsive and enjoyable to ride. By making these horses safe for riders that are less experienced, I hope that I will increase the possibility that they can find homes.”

You don’t have to have all the riding experience that Ahnia does in order to help the horses; they also need help in horse care–chores such as feeding and pasturing horses, cleaning stall, and barn maintenance–and publicity which can help bring in potential adopters, and find ways for Sunshine to get more funds to support their horses.