Noir Vintage: Jazzing Up Local Business with Murals
This 7-week long mural painting project introduced me to the diverse landscape of New Haven. Noir Vintage & Co. is the first black women owned vintage shop in New Haven, and it just opened business this past June 2023. I collaborated with the store owner/curator, Evelyn Massey, on her dream of creating a space in downtown New Haven to celebrate African American culture and the prolific arts impact of vintage style. It was a joy to join Evelyn on her small business journey through mural painting to spotlight vintage culture and to amplify Noir Vintage on New Haven’s business stage. This project solidified my passion for using arts and culture as an impetus for economic development.Â
The Start
For my first week of college, I chose to participate in the FOCUS community service first-year orientation run by Dwight Hall. This orientation was centered around exploring beyond campus and meeting with community leaders across the city. I still remember walking into Noir Vintage and Co: I saw the owner and curator, Evelyn Massey, dancing to the front of the store. As I entered the back room, a stream of sunshine glittered through the skylight, a soon-to-be-designed patch of the store. Evelyn looked up, sighing that she wanted color up there. That’s when I introduced myself as an artist.Â
The next seven weeks, Noir Vintage became my home. I started with drafts: Evelyn and I swiveled our heads while spewing ideas for the skylight. She envisioned a 1960s psychedelic design, like her grandmother’s dress. I captured our fascination with rustic hues and golden accents to create a variety of designs connecting flowers, texture, and Afro-American culture.Â
Friendship
When the morning sunshine streamed through the store, I felt the warmth of Evelyn’s prayers: “Lord, thank you today for I’m so lucky to meet an artist who brings such light into my room. May the Lord protect her always. Bring her academic success and happiness.”
No one had ever prayed for me like this. Evelyn valued me beyond a public servant, as a vigorous student and joyous human being. She saw me for so much more than I expected, and I cared for her past the bounds of any service project. I learned–through tender prayers and grateful tears–that service should stem from our most compassionate senses.We can find familial love for one another as human beings: this motivates me to serve others.
Within New Haven, and other cities, I see countless people with large dreams and promises. I also see myself. Making life as colorful as possible is a cornerstone in my philosophy: understanding the stories of different people pushes me to pursue these community projects.
Finished Skylight
This wraparound skylight showcases Afro-American design and vintage style. I loved collaborating with Evelyn on a psychedelic design with flowers, curvy waves, and vintage patterns.Â
Jazzing It Up
