Whispers of the Seen and the Unseen

This mural workshop centered youth as designers and storytellers, guiding them through identity, storytelling, and community reflection to create a 61-foot public mural and exhibit. Over eight weeks — May 1st through mid-June — youth explored identity, community, and social issues through photography and storytelling, working alongside professional artists, historians, and mental health facilitators to design and paint the mural from concept to completion. We didn't create a mural for them — we built it WITH them.

Scanned the QR code at the wall? You're in the right place — hover a portrait below to hear their story in their own words.

📍 Water Tree Galveston, 2627 Market Street, Galveston, TX

Meet the Artists Our Sponsors

Meet the Team

Professional artists, mental health facilitators, and community leaders who worked alongside the youth from concept to completion.

Lead Artist Facilitator

Ibraim Nascimento, Muralist

An international, Afro-Brazilian artist from Cachoeira, Bahia, who has exhibited across Brazil and the U.S. Ibraim studied fine arts at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) and has over 15 years of experience teaching art to kids ages 2–18 in Brazil and the United States.

Mental Health Facilitator & Evaluator

Dr. Robyn Douglas Ramirez, M.A, M.S

A research scientist and mental health advocate from Houston. Her work examines the experiences of Black youth and youth of color exposed to community violence, racial trauma, and neighborhood poverty, with 5+ years of clinical experience with diverse youth and families.

Historical Activist Facilitator

Jonathan Warren

A former attorney, school liaison, and organizing coordinator with a background in education justice reform throughout Texas. Jonathan holds a JD from Florida Coastal School of Law and a B.S. from Hardin-Simmons University, with advanced knowledge of law and Black political history.

Executive Director

Cora Moore

Founder and Executive Director of CTRL+CREATE, with a background in museums, cultural centers, and community-based organizations. Cora has served Galveston youth for 20+ years, focusing on equity, collaboration, and sustainable community impact.

The Artists Behind the Mural

We are not directing their voices — we are amplifying them. Each of these five youth artists sat down to reflect on what the mural means to them.

Youth Artist

Keagan Key

Painted a turtle among the mural's animal silhouettes drifting through colorful water — on community support, and never giving up.

Youth Artist

John "Corey" Parker

On freedom their ancestors didn't have — and giving teenagers a voice to speak without bounds.

Youth Artist

Braelan Green

On showing that Black people are beautiful and resilient — and that youth may be even more capable than older generations, because it's their future to shape.

Youth Artist

Samara Richardson

On addressing racism and oppression subtly, through a Black mermaid — and imagining humanity living in harmony with the earth.

Youth Artist

Ramone Scott

On speaking up for people who are seen and unseen — and pushing kids toward more real-world experience outside the house.

In Their Own Words

What stayed with them most from this experience — pulled from their interviews.

The mural was also featured on the front page of the Galveston Daily News.

"I think the community gathered up and supported us so we could keep trying and never give up."

— Keagan Key

"I'm new to Galveston, so being able to leave my mark somewhere in this world — with people I enjoy being around, and having it be fully teenage-led — was an experience most people don't get. It was actually pretty amazing."

— John

"With this piece, I'm trying to say that young people are capable of being the voices for our community..."

— Braelan

"I feel like this mural can be used to address issues like racism and oppression, but in a subtle way. It's not often that you see young Black artists like ourselves — or even a Black mermaid. I want to make a change in our community by having more positive brown-skinned representation, other than the stereotypical things you see online."

— Samara

"I think it's a great way to leave a mark on the world and to inspire young people to do great things and let their imaginations run wild."

— Ramone

The Mural, Up Close

The finished 61-foot mural, and the community that gathered to celebrate it. More photos from the 8-week process will be added here as they come in.

Kickoff circleThe group's first sit-down, laying out the 8-week program.

Sharing reference imagesIbraim walks the group through mural references on a tablet.

Talking through ideasEarly conversation about concepts for the piece.

Site visitScouting the Water Tree wall before work began.

Claiming the wallThe group at the blank wall that would become the mural.

Mural workshop meetingAnnouncements and planning at a mural workshop session.

Looking at inspirationReviewing images and ideas as a group.

Sketching the sea lifeBlocking out a jellyfish design on paper before the wall.

Drawing the sunOne of the mural's sunburst elements, sketched out.

The face takes shapeThe mural's central figure, sketched onto the wall in blue.

Marking the wallThe design gridded and numbered to scale it up.

The full sketchThe mural's design chalked across the entire wall.

First paint on the wallThe earliest brushstrokes go up.

Painting with a thumbs upA young artist gives a thumbs-up while painting the wave lines blue.

Filling in the blueYouth artists color in sections of the numbered design.

Blocking in the dark blueA youth artist paints one of the mural's deep blue panels.

Side by side on the ladderPainting the numbered sections together.

Wide view of the blockThe mural site, ladder and supply tent set up for the day.

Up on the scaffoldReaching the higher sections of the wall.

The sun goes inOne of the mural's sunburst details, freshly painted yellow.

Directing from the ladderFacilitator guiding the group while painting.

Detail workCareful brushwork on one section of the wave pattern.

Debrief under the tentThe group gathers to talk through the day's progress.

Hands mid-sessionA quick pose with paint-stained hands.

Scraping in the shadowsWorking the dark blue base coat, low to the ground.

The crew in front of the waveGroup photo with the finished wave-and-dolphin panel.

Group selfie with the sunriseEveryone gathered under the mural's face and dolphin section.

Close-up with the dolphinA quick selfie in front of the mural's dolphin.

Watching the wall take shapeA youth artist pauses, mural in progress behind him.

Spraying the sunburstUp on the scaffold, filling in the orange sky.

Blue on the scaffoldReaching the higher sections with the spray gun.

Working the sunrise togetherTwo artists team up on the color gradient.

Guiding the spray gunTalking through the technique on the platform.

Reaching the topPainting the highest point of the sunburst.

A look down from the scaffoldTaking a break above the mural.

Detail work in pinkCareful spray work on the wave pattern.

The finished muralThe full 61-foot mural, freshly completed on Water Tree Galveston's wall.

The listenerA woman mid-listen, hair flowing into the waves — the mural's anchor image.

Sun, dolphin & jellyfishThe sunrise stream carries a dolphin, jellyfish, and paper boats out to sea.

The turtle's journeyA turtle rides the current past sunflowers and schools of fish.

Whale on the garage doorA whale breaches on the Water Tree garage door, part of the mural's east end.

Community, up closeCommunity members taking in the mermaid detail on reveal day.

Reveal dayThe team gathered in front of the finished wall.

Celebrating the muralTwo community members celebrating the completed piece.

Families at the revealCommunity members viewing the full mural on reveal day.

The crowd gathersNeighbors and supporters at the community reveal.

Painting the wavesA youth artist adds detail to the mural's blue wave panels.

In front of the finished panelStanding before the mural's sunflower-and-dolphin section.

Paint-stained handsAfter a session of mixing and blending color on the wall.

Mixing colorA youth artist's palette, loaded with the mural's warm tones.

On siteTaking a break in front of the mural, mid-progress.

Our Sponsors

This mural wouldn't exist without the community partners who helped fund materials, artist fees, youth stipends, and the mural reveal celebration. Thank you.

Whispers of the Seen and the Unseen

Meet the Team

Ibraim Nascimento, Muralist

Dr. Robyn Douglas Ramirez, M.A, M.S

Jonathan Warren

Cora Moore

The Artists Behind the Mural

Keagan Key

John "Corey" Parker

Braelan Green

Samara Richardson

Ramone Scott

In Their Own Words

The Mural, Up Close

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