School of Fish
Collection of the NYC Department of Education, Public Art for Public Schools
PS 384 Hunters Point Elementary, Queens
2021
Commissioned by the NYC Department of Education, NYC School Construction Authority Public Art for Public Schools program, in collaboration with NYPC Department of Cultural Affairs Percent for Art program
School of Fish is a site-specific ceramic mural made of over 2000 hand-made and hand-painted tiles created by master artisans in the ancient Moroccan city of Fes. The 33-foot-long mural features schools of fish swimming in a river with faces peeking out from the waters.
The wall’s saw tooth, wavy form and the touch of ochre glaze on its sides resembles the shimmering water of the East River and addresses historical references to both East River paintings and the industrial past of the school’s neighborhood. Steeped in the beauty of the East River, the mural features varying schools of East River fish, celebrating the diverse demography of Queens.
Images courtesy NYC SCA and Iman Raad
Photos by Kaveh Kowsari
