Expanding upon the success of its previous years, WALL\THERAPY will be hosting a week long event starting on July 19th, showcasing the extraordinary talent of artists from across the globe and from our own back yard. Faith47 and Chinese artist DALeast, both hailing from Cape Town, South Africa are returning to Rochester for the third consecutive year. New additions to the artist lineup include Gaia from Baltimore, Binho from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wise Two from Nairobi, Kenya and London-based Irish artist Conor Harrington. Rochester-based artists Mr. Prvrt, Range, St. Monci and Sarah C. Rutherford will join other local artists and our visiting “wall therapists” to create 30 original pieces of art throughout the city.

To kick off this week long mural festival, there will be block parties in each neighborhood where the murals are being painted featuring local musicians and performers, adding to the experience as crowds watch the “wall therapists” at work. An open community dialogue with the artists will take place mid-week.

WALL\THERAPY is brought to you by The Synthesis Collaborative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health in the developing world using the tools of teleradiology and cloud computing. The common thread is “Imagery,” which has the potential to preserve and enhance life by addressing the needs of both the body and spirit. Its co-founder Dr. Ian Wilson envisions this event and the art it will create to be a lasting influence on the heart of the Rochester community. WALL\THERAPY brings these talented individuals together as a community-level intervention to use mural art as a vehicle to address our collective need for inspiration.

The 2013 WALL\THERAPY has also been made possible by the generous individuals who donated through our indiegogo campaign this past Spring. With their help and donations from local artists, our campaign was able to reach its goal of over $30,000.

Members of the press and public are invited to visit and engage the “wall therapists” as they paint their murals on the various walls generously donated by individuals and businesses in the South Wedge and El Camino Trail area.