Grace (2017) - Photos courtesy of Samantha Robison
Awareness and Prevention Through Art (aptART) is a non-governmental, not for profit organization of artists, activists and educators engaging vulnerable children in art. Through workshops and murals, youth are empowered with an outlet to express themselves, build awareness and promote prevention about issues affecting their lives.
Ernesto has been lucky to partner with Samantha Robison, founder and executive director of aptART on several mural projects. He has traveled to Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and Greece with aptART to paint murals with the communities’ kids.
Learn more about aptART here.
Beirut, Lebanon
The Rhino and the Oxpecker (2017) - Photos courtesy of Selina Miles & Samantha Robison
Ernesto painted The Rhino and the Oxpecker in Beirut, Lebanon in 2017.
Lebanon has dealt with civil war, an influx of refugees from Syria, Iraq and Palestine, and economic hardships. The Rhino and the Oxpecker was painted to remind residents that they can all exist together in the same community, much like the rhino and the oxpecker, which have a symbiotic relationship.
Samantha and Ernesto worked with the kids in the neighboring communities to paint animals that also share a symbiotic relationships.
Learn more about the project on the Montana Cans blog.
Erbil, Sulaymaniyah & Duhok, Iraq
Parents Are Our Homeland (2017) - Photos courtesy of Samantha Robison
aptART partnered with UNHCR, Qandil LCN (Legal Clinic Network) and Intersos Erbil Office during World Refugee Day 2017 to bring art and awareness to affected communities. Iraq has endured several years of war and turmoil. Many of its citizens have experienced internal displacement, and many others are refugees from neighboring countries experiencing civil war, like Syria.
While Ernesto visited the country, aptART held painting workshops for kids in host communities. After the workshops, the children helped Ernesto paint a mural in their neighborhood.
Grace (2017)
Parents Are Our Homeland (2017)
Seeing Humanity (2017)
Ernesto painted three murals:
Grace in Erbil featured a deer with daffodils and roses. The deer symbolizes grace, even in difficult times. The kids helped paint the background, leaves and flowers.
Parents Are Our Homeland in Sulaymaniyah featured a mama bear and her cub. The mural symbolizes the story of many people living in Iraq today. While they may not be able to live in their homeland, their parents help them stay grounded and feel at home.
Seeing Humanity in Duhok was painted outside of a school for girls who have been displaced by conflict in the region. The girls helped complete the mural, which featured a peacock.
Learn more about the project with Montana Cans and Graffiti Street.
Ajloun & Kerak, Jordan
Animals (2016) - Photos courtesy of Samantha Robison
Ernesto visited the Jordan in 2016 to paint Animals and Diversity is Beautiful with aptART.
Diversity is Beautiful (2016)
Animals was painted in Ajloun with the help of kids in the community. During a workshop, they drew some of their favorite animals, like tigers and parrots. Ernesto painted a large parrot and everyone helped him paint leaves and feathers.
Diversity is Beautiful was painted in Kerak. It features a large camel with leaves, olive branches, and textiles. Local kids also helped complete this colorful mural after a workshop.
Learn more about the project with Graffiti Street.
Athens, Greece
Once Upon a Time (2018) - Photos and video courtesy of Selina Miles
Ernesto painted Once Upon a Time in Athens, Greece at the Schisto refugee camp in 2018. It was a part of aptART’s Coexisting in Color project.
The refugee camp is a temporary home to refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. The grounds contain a school section for children, so the artists painted the camp’s library, offices and kindergarten.
Ernesto painted a rabbit holding a stack of books on the camp’s library. Kids helped him paint and drew scenes from their favorite stories like Spiderman and Rapunzel.
Learn more about the project with Montana Cans and Graffiti Street.
