The Family Partnership Mural by City Mischief

About the Mural

This mural does not have a name, but it is known as "The Family Partnership Mural." It was painted by a group that goes by the name City Mischief, which is a collective of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) artists in the Minneapolis area. This mural is located at 1527 E Lake St., close to The Family Partnerships Four Directions Family Center. This mural celebrates the diversity of the community and shows the strength and cultures of neighborhood families. Also, it is a reflection of life and traditions of people in the community. It creates a welcoming presence for people and families who come to this place.

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There are ten figures in this mural and there is a lot of diversity and symbols throughout the painting. There are four people that are indigenous in cultural clothing, two of the people have decorations in their hair, such as feathers. There is a woman with two boys that profess the Muslim faith because she and the girl are wearing hijab. Also, she appears to be singing or reading a book to the boys. There is a woman who has a dress with a skirt that has the Mexican flag on it. There is another character that is wearing a bright red dress and has a very large and shiny headdress. In her right hand she holds a three-legged bowl used for ceremonies in the indigenous cultures of South America. Additionally, there is a man of color that is playing a drum, and it looks like the drum is a djembe. These djembe drums are originally from West Africa and according to the Bambara people in Mali, the name of the djembe comes from the saying "Anke djé, anke bé" that translates to "all gathered in peace" and this is the purpose of the drum.

In the background of this mural there are symbols across and mixed with people. Behind one of the indigenous women there is an eight-pointed star called mi'kmap. This star can be associated with the morning star which is the planet Venus. Sometimes this star is a symbol of protection and orientation. Indigenous people think that balance in life depended on the seasons, the cycles of the moon, and the sun. There is a three-eyed smiley face and this symbol is used to represent wisdom, joy, and understanding. Moreover, there is also a fisted hand and this symbol is associated with the black power movement. It has a very long history as a global symbol of solidarity and the fight against oppression. Along the front are marigolds, these flowers are the flower of the dead in the Mexican tradiction. They are used on the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and are meant to guide the spirits home with their bright orange color and strong aroma. People share focal points with symbols and there is a nice flow throughout the entire painting. The theme of unity is obvious with the representation of diverse people, symbols, and celebrations of different immigrant cultures.